Date: 1711

"I consider an Human Soul without Education like Marble in the Quarry, which shews none of its inherent Beauties, till the Skill of the Polisher fetches out the Colours, makes the Surface shine, and discovers every ornamental Cloud, Spot and Vein that runs through the Body of it."

— Addison, Joseph (1672-1719)

Date: 1711

"What Sculpture is to a Block of Marble, Education is to an Human Soul. "

— Addison, Joseph (1672-1719)

Date: 1711

"For to return to our Statue in the Block of Marble, we see it sometimes only begun to be chipped, sometimes rough-hewn and but just sketched into an human Figure, sometimes we see the Man appearing distinctly in all his Limbs and Features, sometimes we find the Figure wrought up to a great Elega...

— Addison, Joseph (1672-1719)

Date: Friday, November 28, 1712

"Every one has in him a natural Alloy, tho' one may be fuller of Dross than another: For this reason I cannot think it right to introduce a perfect or a faultless Man upon the Stage; not only because such a Character is improper to move Compassion, but because there is no such a thing in Nature."

— Addison, Joseph (1672-1719)

Date: 1713

"Why will you fight against so sweet a Passion, / And steel your Heart to such a World of Charms?"

— Addison, Joseph (1672-1719)