Date: 1691
"The Brain, which is the principle of all Sense and Motion, the Fountain of the Animal Spirits, the Chief Seat and Palace Royal of the Soul; upon whose security depends whatever Privilege belongs to us as Sensitive or Rational Creatures."
preview | full record— Ray [formerly Wray], John (1627–1705)
Date: 1691
"Trade is the very Life and Soul of the Universe, which, like the Vital Blood in the Body, Circulates to the Health, and well-being of the whole, and when by the failure of Industry, there is a stop put to Commerce, it often proves as fatal to the Body Politick, as the stagnating of the Blood doe...
preview | full record— Blount, Thomas Pope, Sir (1649-1697)
Date: 1691
"And besides who knows but the Same Observation may hold true in Men, which is in Metals, That those of the strongest and noblest Substance, are hardest to be Polisht."
preview | full record— Blount, Thomas Pope, Sir (1649-1697)
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."
preview | full record— Blount, Thomas Pope, Sir (1649-1697)
Date: 1692
"He has clearly overthrown all those Metaphysical Whymsies, which infected mens Brains with a Spice of Madness, whereby they feign'd a Knowledge where they had none, by making a noise with Sounds, without clear and distinct Significations."
preview | full record— Molyneux, William (1656-1698)
Date: 1693
"An impression made on Bees-wax or Lead will not last so long as on Brass or Steel. Indeed, if it be renew'd often, it may last the longer; but every new reflecting on it is a new impression, and 'tis from thence one is to reckon, if one would know how long the Mind reteins it"
preview | full record— Locke, John (1632-1704)
Date: 1693
Locke's book is "designed for a Gentleman's Son, who being then very little, I considered only as white Paper, or Wax, to be moulded and fashioned as one pleases."
preview | full record— Locke, John (1632-1704)
Date: 1694
"If Man would understand the Excellency of the Soul, as far as it is capable of comprehending it self, let him, after serious Recollection, descend into himself, and search diligently his own Mind, and there he shall find so many admirable Gifts, and excellent Ornaments."
preview | full record— Aristotle [pseud.]
Date: 1694
The soul is "a spark of the Divine Mind" and "a blast of Almighty Breath"
preview | full record— Aristotle [pseud.]
Date: 1694
A "Mothers strange Imaginations, and divers Phantasms" "deform the Body" of her child
preview | full record— Aristotle [pseud.]