text,updated_at,metaphor,created_at,context,theme,reviewed_on,dictionary,comments,provenance,id,work_id
"But there are, who write with vigor, and success, to the world's Delight, and their own Renown. These are the glorious fruits where Genius prevails. The mind of a man of Genius is a fertile and pleasant field, pleasant as Elysium, and fertile as Tempe; it enjoys a perpetual Spring. Of that Spring, Originals are the fairest Flowers: Imitations are of quicker growth, but fainter bloom. Imitations are of two kinds; one of Nature, one of Authors: The first we call Originals, and confine the term Imitation to the second. I shall not enter into the curious enquiry of what is, or is not, strictly speaking, Original, content with what all must allow, that some Compositions are more so than others; and the more they are so, I say, the better. Originals are, and ought to be, great Favourites, for they are great Benefactors; they extend the Republic of Letters, and add a new province to its dominion: Imitators only give us a sort of Duplicates of what we had, possibly much better, before; increasing the mere Drug of books, while all that makes them valuable, Knowledge and Genius, are at a stand. The pen of an Original Writer, like Armida's wand, out of a barren waste calls a blooming spring: Out of that blooming spring an Imitator is a transplanter of Laurels, which sometimes die on removal, always languish in a foreign soil. (9-11)",2009-09-14 19:38:44 UTC,"""The mind of a man of Genius is a fertile and pleasant field, pleasant as Elysium, and fertile as Tempe""",2004-01-28 00:00:00 UTC,"","",,"","",HDIS,13572,5063
"But why are Originals so few? not because the Writer's harvest is over, the great Reapers of Antiquity having left nothing to be gleaned after them; nor because the human mind's teeming time is past, or because it is incapable of putting forth unprecedented births; but because Illustrious Examples engross, prejudice, and intimidate. They engross our attention, and so prevent a due inspection of ourselves; they prejudice our Judgment in favour of their abilities, and so lessen the sense of our own; and they intimidate us with the splendor of their Renown, and thus under Diffidence bury our strength. Nature's Impossibilities, and those of Diffidence, lie wide asunder.
(17-18)",2014-03-04 03:50:01 UTC,"""But why are Originals so few? not because the Writer's harvest is over, the great Reapers of Antiquity having left nothing to be gleaned after them; nor because the human mind's teeming time is past, or because it is incapable of putting forth unprecedented births.""",2009-09-14 19:38:44 UTC,"","",,"",http://eir.library.utoronto.ca/rpo/display/displayprose.cfm?prosenum=16,Reading,13573,5063
"""But, you say, since Originals can arise from Genius only, and since Genius is so very rare, it is scarce worth while to labour a point so much, from which we can reasonably expect so little."" To show that Genius is not so very rare as you imagine, I shall point out strong instances of it, in a far distant quarter from that mentioned above. The minds of the Schoolmen were almost as much cloistered as their bodies; they had but little learning, and few books; yet may the most learned be struck with some astonishment at their so singular natural sagacity, and most exquisite edge of thought. Who would expect to find Pindar and Scotus, Shakespear and Aquinas, of the same Party? Both equally shew an original, unindebted, energy; the Vigor igneus, and Cœlestis origo burns in both; and leaves us in doubt if Genius is more evident in the sublime flights and beauteous flowers of poetry, or in the profound penetrations, and marvelously keen and minute distinctions, called the Thorns of the schools. There might have been more able Consuls called from the plough, than ever arrived at that honour: Many a Genius, probably, there has been, which could neither write, nor read. So that Genius, that supreme Lustre of literature, is less rare than you conceive.
(34-35)",2014-03-03 22:45:33 UTC,"""The minds of the Schoolmen were almost as much cloistered as their bodies; they had but little learning, and few books.""",2009-09-14 19:38:44 UTC,"","",,Rooms,http://eir.library.utoronto.ca/rpo/display/displayprose.cfm?prosenum=16,"",13574,5063
"Nay, so far are we from complying with a necessity, which Nature lays us under, that, Secondly , by a spirit of Imitation we counteract Nature, and thwart her design. She brings us into the world all Originals: No two faces, no two minds, are just alike; but all bear Nature's evident mark of Separation on them. Born Originals, how comes it to pass that we die Copies? That medling Ape Imitation, as soon as we come to years of Indiscretion (so let me speak), snatches the Pen, and blots out nature's mark of Separation, cancels her kind intention, destroys all mental Individuality; the letter'd world no longer consists of Singulars, it is a Medly, a Mass; and a hundred books, at bottom, are but One. Why are Monkies such masters of mimickry? Why receive they such a talent at imitation? Is it not as the Spartan slaves received a licence for ebriety; that their Betters might be ashamed of it? (42-3)",2009-09-14 19:38:44 UTC,"""That medling Ape Imitation, as soon as we come to years of Indiscretion (so let me speak), snatches the Pen, and blots out nature's mark of Separation, cancels her kind intention, destroys all mental Individuality""",2009-09-14 19:38:44 UTC,"","",2003-10-23,Writing,"",http://eir.library.utoronto.ca/rpo/display/displayprose.cfm?prosenum=16 ,13575,5063
"As great, perhaps, greater than those mentioned (presumptuous as it may sound) may, possibly, arise; for who hath fathomed the mind of man? Its bounds are as unknown, as those of the creation; since the birth of which, perhaps, not One has so far exerted, as not to leave his Possibilities beyond his Attainments, his Powers beyond his Exploits. Forming our judgments, altogether by what has been done, without knowing, or at all inquiring, what [Page 49] possibly might have been done, we naturally enough fall into too mean an opinion of the human mind. If a sketch of the divine Iliad before Homer wrote, had been given to mankind, by some superior being, or otherwise, its execution would, probably, have appeared beyond the power of man. Now, to surpass it, we think impossible. As the First of these opinions would evidently have been a mistake, why may not the Second be so too? Both are founded on the same bottom; on our ignorance of the possible dimensions of the mind of man.",2009-09-14 19:38:45 UTC,"""Both are founded on the same bottom; on our ignorance of the possible dimensions of the mind of man.""",2009-09-14 19:38:45 UTC,pp. 48-9,"",,"","",http://eir.library.utoronto.ca/rpo/display/displayprose.cfm?prosenum=16 ,13576,5063
"Therefore dive deep into thy bosom; learn the depth, extent, biass, and full fort of thy mind; contract full intimacy with the Stranger within thee; excite, and cherish every spark of Intellectual light and heat, however smothered under former negligence, or scattered through the dull, dark mass of common thoughts; and collecting them into a body, let thy Genius rise (if a Genius thou hast) as the sun from Chaos; and if I should then say, like an Indian, worship it, (though too bold) yet should I say little more than my second rule enjoins, (viz.) Reverence thyself. (53)",2014-03-03 22:47:38 UTC,"""Therefore dive deep into thy bosom; learn the depth, extent, biass, and full fort of thy mind; contract full intimacy with the Stranger within thee; excite, and cherish every spark of Intellectual light and heat, however smothered under former negligence, or scattered through the dull, dark mass of common thoughts; and collecting them into a body, let thy Genius rise (if a Genius thou hast) as the sun from Chaos.""",2009-09-14 19:38:45 UTC,"","",,Population,"http://eir.library.utoronto.ca/rpo/display/displayprose.cfm?prosenum=16
The genius/sun comparison is not separately catalogued, but perhaps it should be.
I've included it.","",13577,5063
"That is, let not great Examples, or Authorities, browbeat thy Reason into too great a diffidence of thyself: Thyself so reverence as to prefer the native growth of thy own mind to the richest import from abroad; such borrowed riches make us poor. The man who thus reverences himself, will soon find the world's reverence to follow his own. His works will stand distinguished; his the sole Property of them; which Property alone can confer the noble title of an Author, that is, of one who (to speak accurately) thinks, and composes; while other invaders of the Press, how voluminous, and learned soever, (with due respect be it spoken) only read, and write.
(53-4).",2014-03-03 22:49:54 UTC,"""That is, let not great Examples, or Authorities, browbeat thy Reason into too great a diffidence of thyself: Thyself so reverence as to prefer the native growth of thy own mind to the richest import from abroad; such borrowed riches make us poor.""",2009-09-14 19:38:45 UTC,"","",2003-10-22,"","•http://eir.library.utoronto.ca/rpo/display/displayprose.cfm?prosenum=16
•I've included twice: Import and Native Growth","",13579,5063
"And why not? For, consider, since an impartial Providence scatters talents indifferently, as thro' all orders of persons, so thro' all periods of time; since, a marvelous light, unenjoy'd of old, is pour'd on us by revelation, with larger prospects extending our Understanding, with brighter objects enriching our Imagination, with an inestimable prize setting our Passions on fire, thus strengthening every power that enables composition to shine; since, there has been no fall in man on this side Adam, who left no works, and the works of all other antients are our auxiliars against themselves, as being perpetual spurs to our ambition, and shining lamps in our path to fame; since, this world is a school, as well for intellectual, as moral, advance; and the longer human nature is at school, the better scholar it should be; since, as the moral world expects its glorious Milennium, the world intellectual may hope, by the rules of analogy, for some superior degrees of excellence to crown her latter scenes; nor may it only hope, but must enjoy them too; for Tully, Quintillian, and all true critics allow, that virtue assists Genius, and that the writer will be more able, when better is the man -- All these particulars, I say, consider'd, why should it seem altogether impossible, that heaven's latest editions of the human mind may be the most correct, and fair; that the day may come, when the moderns may proudly look back on the comparative darkness of former ages, on the children of antiquity; reputing Homer, and Demosthenes, as the dawn of divine Genius; and on Athens as the cradle of infant Fame; what a glorious revolution would this make in the rolls of renown? (73-4)",2014-03-03 22:58:26 UTC,"""All these particulars, I say, consider'd, why should it seem altogether impossible, that heaven's latest editions of the human mind may be the most correct, and fair.""",2009-09-14 19:38:46 UTC,"","",,Writing,http://eir.library.utoronto.ca/rpo/display/displayprose.cfm?prosenum=16 ,"",13582,5063
"Dryden had a great, but a general capacity; and as for a general Genius, there is no such thing in nature: A Genius implies the rays of the mind concenter'd, and determined to some particular point; when they are scatter'd widely, they act feebly, and strike not with sufficient force, to fire, or dissolve, the heart. As what comes from the Writer's heart, reaches ours; so what comes from his head, sets our brains at work, and our hearts at ease. It makes a circle of thoughtful Critics, not of distressed Patients; and a passive audience, is what tragedy requires. Applause is not to be given, but extorted; and the silent lapse of a single tear, does the writer more honour, than the rattling thunder of a thousand hands. Applauding hands, and dry eyes (which during Dryden 's theatrical reign often met) are a satire on the Writer's talent, and the Spectator's taste. When by such judges the laurel is blindly given, and by such a poet proudly received, they resemble an intoxicated host, and his tasteless guests, over some sparkling adulteration, commending their Champaign.
(84-6)",2014-03-03 22:52:47 UTC,"""A Genius implies the rays of the mind concenter'd, and determined to some particular point; when they are scatter'd widely, they act feebly, and strike not with sufficient force, to fire, or dissolve, the heart.""",2009-09-14 19:38:46 UTC,"","",,"",http://eir.library.utoronto.ca/rpo/display/displayprose.cfm?prosenum=16 ,Reading,13583,5063
"But as good books are the medicine of the mind, if we should dethrone these authors, and consider them, not in their royal, but their medicinal capacity, might it not then be said, that Addison prescribed a wholesome and pleasant regimen, which was universally relished, and did much good; that Pope preferred a purgative of satire, which, tho' wholesome, was too painful in its operation; and that Swift insisted on a large dose of ipecacuanha, which, tho' readily swallowed from the fame of the physician, yet, if the patient had any delicacy of taste, he threw up the remedy, instead of the disease?
(97-8)",2014-03-03 22:54:55 UTC,"""But as good books are the medicine of the mind, if we should dethrone these authors, and consider them, not in their royal, but their medicinal capacity, might it not then be said, that Addison prescribed a wholesome and pleasant regimen, which was universally relished, and did much good; that Pope preferred a purgative of satire, which, tho' wholesome, was too painful in its operation; and that Swift insisted on a large dose of ipecacuanha, which, tho' readily swallowed from the fame of the physician, yet, if the patient had any delicacy of taste, he threw up the remedy, instead of the disease?""",2009-09-14 19:38:46 UTC,"","",2003-10-22,"","",http://eir.library.utoronto.ca/rpo/display/displayprose.cfm?prosenum=16 ,13584,5063