Date: 1675, 1746

"The Ground needs no other midwifery in bringing forth Weeds, than only the neglect of the Husbandman's Hand to pluck them up; the Air needs no other Cause of Darkness, than the Absence of Sun; nor water of Coldness, than its Distance from the Fire, because these are the genuine Products of ...

— Westminster Assembly (1643-1652)

Date: 1682

"The one 'tis true is wholly void of Reason, but it is also an equivalent Darkness of Mind, that possesses the other."

— L'Estrange, Sir Roger (1616-1704)

Date: w. 1628, published in 1684, 1701

"Even though problems such as these can often be solved without a method and can sometimes perhaps be solved more quickly through good luck than through method, nevertheless they might dim the light of the mind and make it become so habituated to childish and futile pursuits that thereafter it wo...

— Descartes, René (1596-1650)

Date: w. 1628, published in 1684, 1701

"So the same light of the mind which enabled them to see (albeit without knowing why) that virtue is preferable to pleasure, the good preferable to the useful, also enabled them to grasp true ideas in philosophy and mathematics, although they were not yet able fully to master such sciences"

— Descartes, René (1596-1650)

Date: 1690, 1694, 1695, 1700, 1706

"The Candle that is set up in us, shines bright enough for all our Purposes."

— Locke, John (1632-1704)

Date: 1690, 1694, 1695, 1700, 1706

"Ideas do, whilst we are awake, succeed one another in our Minds at certain distances, not much unlike the Images in the inside of a Lanthorn, turned round by the Heat of a Candle"

— Locke, John (1632-1704)

Date: 1690, 1694, 1695, 1700, 1706

The Candle of the Lord is set up in men's minds and "is impossible for the breath or Power of Man wholly to extinguish"

— Locke, John (1632-1704)

Date: 1690, 1694, 1695, 1700, 1706

"This part of Knowledge is irresistible, and like bright Sun-shine, forces itself immediately to be perceived, as soon as ever the Mind turns its view that way; and leaves no room for Hesitation, Doubt, or Examination, but the Mind is presently filled with the clear light of it."

— Locke, John (1632-1704)

Date: 1690, 1694, 1695, 1700, 1706

"GOD I own cannot be denied to enlighten the Understanding by a Ray darted into the Mind immediately from the Fountain of Light"

— Locke, John (1632-1704)

Date: 1690, 1694, 1695, 1700, 1706

Enthusiasts "see the Light infused into their Understandings, and cannot be mistaken; 'tis clear and visible there; like the Light of bright Sunshine."

— Locke, John (1632-1704)