Date: 1745

"We are told by Philosophers, of no small Note, that the Mind is, at first, a kind of Tabula rasa, or like a Piece of blank Paper, that it bears no original Inscriptions, when we come into the World,--that we owe all the Characters afterwards drawn upon it, to the Impressions made upon our Senses...

— Fordyce, David (bap. 1711, d. 1751)

Date: 1745

"As little would I agree with those Philosophers Constant mentioned, that the Mind resembles a Leaf of white Paper."

— Fordyce, David (bap. 1711, d. 1751)

Date: 1745

"I would rather compare it [the mind] to a Seed, which contains all the Stamina of the future Plant, and all those Principles of Perfection, to which it aspires in its After-growth, and regularly arrives by gradual Stages, unless it is obstructed in its Progress by external Violence."

— Fordyce, David (bap. 1711, d. 1751)

Date: 1745

"The infant Mind is ductile like Wax; you may stamp a fair or ugly Impression upon it, Error or Knowledge, Indolence or Application, Virtue or Vice."

— Fordyce, David (bap. 1711, d. 1751)

Date: 1745

"And, in my Opinion, we have as much need of the Hand of Culture to call forth our latent Powers, to direct their Exercise; in fine, to shape and polish us into Men, as the unformed Block has of the Craver or Statuary's Skill, to draw it out of that rude State, into the Form and Proportions of a ...

— Fordyce, David (bap. 1711, d. 1751)

Date: 1752

"Can you be free while passions rule you?"

— Cambridge, Richard Owen (1717-1802)

Date: 1752

"The wise alone, / Who only bows to reason's throne; / Whom neither want, nor death, nor chains, / Nor subtle persecutor's pains, / Nor honours, wealth, nor lust can move / From virtue and his country's love."

— Cambridge, Richard Owen (1717-1802)

Date: 1752

"In vain--The Master-Passion governs still, / And forces you to yield against your Will"

— Duncombe, John (1729-1786) [pseud.]

Date: 1752

Pleasure is "the secret Spring that actuates man"

— Duncombe, John (1729-1786) [pseud.]

Date: 1752

"Worse than the other--Whom, thus robb'd of Pow'r. / His former Passions fatally devour!"

— Duncombe, John (1729-1786) [pseud.]