Date: 1786

"From that awful period, almost every expectation is forlorn: the heart is left unguarded: its great protector is no more: the vices therefore, which so long encompassed it in vain, obtain an easy victory: in crouds they pour into the defenceless avenues, and take possession of the soul: there is...

— Clarkson, Thomas (1760–1846)

Date: 1786

"This conduct is not only inhuman, but impious in the highest degree; as at this awful tremendous moment, desponding fears and infidel doubts find an easy conquest of a mind, which, though not strengthened by Christian philosophy, is considerably weakened by disease."

— Nolan, William (fl. 1786)

Date: 1787

"If any assistance be given to the oligarchic party within him, by his father, or the others of his family, admonishing and upbraiding him, then truly arises sedition and opposition, and a fight within him, with himself."

— Adams, John (1735-1826)

Date: 1787

"Again, when some desires retire, there are others akin to them, which grow up, and through inattention to the father's instructions, become both many and powerful, draw towards intimacies among themselves, and generate a multitude, seize the citadel or the soul of the youth, finding it evacuated...

— Adams, John (1735-1826)

Date: 1787

"These false and boasting reasonings, denominating modesty to be stupidity; temperance, unmanliness; moderation, rusticity; decent expence, illiberality; thrust them all out disgracefully, and expel them their territories, and lead in in triumph insolence and anarchy, and luxury and impudence, wi...

— Adams, John (1735-1826)

Date: 1788

"But against this dangerous attack she endeavoured to fortify that sensible heart, by considering the probable event of her yielding to it."

— Smith, Charlotte (1749-1806)

Date: 1788

"Cursed be the hour I first indulged it, and cursed the weakness of mind that cannot conquer it!"

— Smith, Charlotte (1749-1806)

Date: 1788

"she hoped that absence and reflection, together with the conviction of it's being hopeless, would conquer this infant passion before it could gather strength wholly to ruin his repose."

— Smith, Charlotte (1749-1806)

Date: 1788

"I attempted, indeed, at the beginning of our acquaintance--ah! how vainly attempted!--to conquer a passion which I believed was rendered hopeless by your prior engagement."

— Smith, Charlotte (1749-1806)

Date: 1786, 1787, 1788; 1789

"She can conquer a heart--that she wants sense to keep."

— Williams, John [pseud. Anthony Pasquin] (1754-1818)