Date: 1691

"I cannot conceive the true Cause hereof [that Men of Learning are uncouth in their discourse], unless it be, that as Plants are Choakt by over-much Moisture, and Lamps are Stifl'd with too much Oil; so are the Actions of the Mind overwhelm'd by over-abundance of Matter and Study."

— Blount, Thomas Pope, Sir (1649-1697)

Date: 1691

"And in a diversity of things, as in a mist, the Mind is apt to lose it self."

— Blount, Thomas Pope, Sir (1649-1697)

Date: 1691

"Now Reading may very properly be compar'd to Eating, and Thinking to Digesting, as therefore to one Hours Eating, we allow many hours for Digesting; so to one hours Reading, we should assign Sufficient time for Meditating, and Digesting, what we have Read."

— Blount, Thomas Pope, Sir (1649-1697)

Date: 1691

"So the other be of no less Prejudice to the understanding, by occasioning Diseases of the Mind."

— Blount, Thomas Pope, Sir (1649-1697)

Date: 1691

"However chast his Body may be, his Mind is extreamly prolifick; his thoughts are a perfect Seraglio, and he, like a great Turk, begets thousands of little Infants--Remarks, Fancys, Fantasticks, Crochets and Whirligigs, on his wandring Intellect, and when once begot, they must be bred--so out he ...

— Dunton, John (1659–1732)

Date: 1691

"Whilst his dull Body's for New-England bound, / His Soul (in Dreams) trots all the World around."

— Dunton, John (1659–1732)

Date: 1691

"Wandring one Evening thro' a Cypress Grove--(I won't be positive, it might be Hazle, but t'other sounds better) revolving in my rambling Brain the Varietyes of Human Affairs, happen'd i' the Drove of Thoughts, that swarm'd up and down my Noddle to reflect on my own self (Sir, Your Humble Servant...

— Dunton, John (1659–1732)

Date: 1691

"But again I won't forestall ye, tho' really the matter presses, and my pregnant Brain labours with so many painful pangs to be obstetricated, that I verily fear I shall burst before I come to disgorge it thro' my fruitful Quill, to avoid which I'll Ramble on as fast as I can scamper thro' this P...

— Dunton, John (1659–1732)

Date: 1691

"As for the pretty little Virtues of Comity and Urbanity, this furnishes you to a miracle, for have you a mind to divert either your self or Friend with the most pleasant and agreeable entertainment, a Mans Jaws must be made of Iron, and fastn'd as close to one another, as if 'twere done with the...

— Dunton, John (1659–1732)

Date: 1691

"I say I've but one little tiney favour to beg, and then--and that is--that he'd maturely Weigh, Swallow, Chew the Cud, and soundly digest this following first Book, before he throw it out agen, for should he make too much hast, and too greedily read it over, as 'tis to be fear'd the pleasantness...

— Dunton, John (1659–1732)