Date: 1746

The Sisters "Silence, and Contemplation" may "with eternal beauties deck the mind"

— Ruffhead, James

Date: 1746

The mind may be tainted with sin

— Ruffhead, James

Date: 1746

"Books, not well digested, blot the mind"

— Ruffhead, James

Date: 1746

"So books, not well digested, blot the mind, / But make us - in search of wisdom - blind"

— Ruffhead, James

Date: 1746

Too many books, "like too much wine - intoxicate the brain"

— Ruffhead, James

Date: 1746

"Man, in a storm of passions daily whirl'd, / Lives but the jest, and riddle of the world."

— Ruffhead, James

Date: 1746

"To true happiness the NOUS is blind"

— Ruffhead, James

Date: 1746

"As river's, by the sun's imbibing ray, / Are in summer quite exhal'd away" so to are "passions when confin'd to selfish love"

— Ruffhead, James

Date: 1746

Self-love may expand "like the generous vine" so that "Another's joy becomes as full as thine"

— Ruffhead, James

Date: 1746

"As, from the center of the lamp of day, / Beams after beams-diffusive sweetly play" so flows sweet joy from "the passions of the generous mind"

— Ruffhead, James