Date: 1788

"She had a metaphysical turn, which inclined her to reflect on every object that passed by her; and her mind was not like a mirror, which receives every floating image, but does not retain them: she had not any prejudices, for every opinion was examined before it was adopted."

— Wollstonecraft, Mary (1759-1797)

Date: 1790

"A shadowy sequestered dell appeared buried deep among the rocks, and in the bottom was seen a lake, whose clear bosom reflected the impending cliffs, and the beautiful luxuriance of the overhanging shades."

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1790

"The ruling passion of Mrs. Melbourne's soul was her love of her daughter; but it was carried to an excess that rendered it illiberal and selfish: her mind resembled a convex glass, and every ray of affection in her bosom was concentered in one small point."

— Williams, Helen Maria (1759-1827)

Date: 1790

"Her mind resembled an empty mirror, which has no character, no images of its own, borrows every impression from some passing object, and, if left to itself, would for ever remain vacant."

— Williams, Helen Maria (1759-1827)

Date: 1794

"Of the world he seemed to know nothing; for he believed well of all mankind, and this opinion gave him the reflected image of his own heart."

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1797

"His mind resembled the glass of a magician, on which the apparitions of long-buried events arise, and as they fleet away, point portentously to shapes half-hid in the duskiness of futurity."

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1797

"When their first excess was exhausted, and his mind was calm enough to reflect, the images that appeared on it struck him with solemn wonder."

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1797

"Over the gloom of Schedoni, no scenery had, at any moment, power; the shape and paint of external imagery gave neither impression or colour to his fancy."

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1797

"Her heart was possessed by evil passions, and all her perceptions were distorted and discoloured by them, which, like a dark magician, had power to change the fairest scenes into those of gloom and desolation."

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1799

"Hitherto distress had been contemplated at a distance, and through the medium of fancy delighting to be startled by the wonderful, or transported by sublimity."

— Brown, Charles Brockden (1771-1810)