updated_at,reviewed_on,context,comments,theme,id,text,provenance,created_at,work_id,metaphor,dictionary
2009-09-14 19:35:07 UTC,2007-05-01,"",See Past Masters collection.,"",10611,"It is the observation of a wise man (Sir Will Temple) that solitude and leisure are the greatest advantages that riches can give those who possess them above all other men; and yet these are what rich men least of all make use of. He that is equally fitted for thought and meditation in his closet, or for business and conversation in the world is certainly the best able to serve his country, and can pass with the greatest evenness through all scenes of life. 'Tis thought which governs the world, and all the states in it, and produces whatever is great and glorious in them. Stirring and action is but the handmaid of thought, without [end page 39] which the former can do no good, but may a great deal of harm. Whatever therefore improves the thinking faculty surely ought to be practised. Now, thought is to the mind what motion is to the body; both are equally improved by exercise and impaired by disuse. In order therefore to obtain health and strength of mind it is useful that we employ our thoughts, though it should be even on useless subjects. How much rather ought we then to exercise them on the grounds and certainty of knowledge, the being and attributes of God, and the nature of our own soul. I mean not by this to persuade you that what I have written deserves much heed, but only to shew you that the subjects I have chosen are worth thinking on.
(Vol. VIII, pp. 39-40)",Reading The Works of George Berkeley,2009-09-14 19:35:07 UTC,4135,"""Now, thought is to the mind what motion is to the body; both are equally improved by exercise and impaired by disuse""",""
2013-07-09 20:00:10 UTC,,"Part I, Section 1",•Cross-reference: the preceding bit about self-dissection puts me in mind of Godwin. Is this an intertext?,Soliloquy,10612,"Go to the poets, and they will present you with many instances. Nothing is more common with them than this sort of soliloquy. A person of profound parts, or perhaps of ordinary capacity, happens on some occasion to commit a fault. He is concerned for it. He comes alone upon the stage, looks about him to see if anybody be near, then takes himself to task without sparing himself in the least. You would wonder to hear how close he pushes matters and how thoroughly he carries on the business of self-dissection. By virtue of this soliloquy, he becomes two distinct persons. He is pupil and preceptor. He teaches and he learns. And, in good earnest, had I nothing else to plead in behalf of the morals of our modern dramatic poets, I should defend them still against their accusers for the sake of this very practice, which they have taken care to keep up in its full force. For whether the practice be natural or no in respect of common custom and usage, I take upon me to assert that it is an honest and laudable practice and that, if already it be not natural to us, we ought however to make it so by study and application.
(p. 72)",Reading,2003-11-06 00:00:00 UTC,4136,"""You would wonder to hear how close he pushes matters and how thoroughly he carries on the business of self-dissection. By virtue of this soliloquy, he becomes two distinct persons. He is pupil and preceptor. He teaches and he learns.""",Inhabitants
2013-07-10 14:46:13 UTC,,"Part I, Section 3","","",10626,"Much more is this the Case in Dialogue. For here the Author is annihilated; and the Reader being no way apply'd to, stands for Nobody. The self-interesting Partys both vanish at once. The Scene presents it-self, as by chance, and undesign'd. You are not only left to judg coolly, and with indifference, of the Sense deliver'd; but of the Character, Genius, Elocution, and Manner of the Persons who deliver it. These too are mere Strangers, in whose favour you are no way engag'd. Nor is it enough that the Persons introduc'd speak pertinent and good Sense, at every turn. It must be seen from what bottom they speak; from what Principle, what Stock or Fund of Knowledg they draw; and what Kind or Species of Understanding they possess. For the Understanding here must have its Mark, its characteristick Note, by which it may be distinguish'd. It must be such and such an Understanding; as when we say, for instance, such or such a Face: since Nature has characteriz'd Tempers and Minds as peculiarly as Faces. And for an Artist who draws naturally, 'tis not enough to shew us merely Faces which may be call'd Men's: Every Face must be a certain Man's.
(pp. 201-2, p. 90 in Klein)",Reading,2003-11-06 00:00:00 UTC,4136,"""It must be such and such an Understanding; as when we say, for instance, such or such a Face: since Nature has characteriz'd Tempers and Minds as peculiarly as Faces.""",""
2009-09-14 19:35:08 UTC,2008-12-03,Introduction,"•More naked and dress follows in next pages: ""naked, undisguised"" ideas are ""divested"" of thought. Words are the ""dress"" or ""curtain.
• REVISIT and fill in...","",10627,(II.38-9),Peter Walmsley's The Rhetoric of Berkeley's Philosophy (p. 11),2004-01-09 00:00:00 UTC,4138,"Ideas may be brought ""bare and naked"" into one's view, keeping out"" the names.",""
2013-06-10 18:24:15 UTC,,"","•Republished in 1734 in London. Editor uses this second edition.
•The adjective ""rooted"" inflects the proposition. Garden metaphor here too? REVISIT.
","",10636,"Every particular finite extension, which may possibly be the object of our thought, is an idea existing only in the mind, and consequently each part thereof must be perceived. If therefore I cannot perceive innumerable parts in any finite extension that I consider, it is certain they are not contained in it: but it is evident, that I cannot distinguish innumerable parts in any particular line, surface, or solid, which I either perceive by sense, or figure to my self in my mind: wherefore I conclude they are not contained in it. Nothing can be plainer to me, than that the extensions I have in view are no other than my own ideas, and it is no less plain, that I cannot resolve any one of my ideas into an infinite number of other ideas, that is, that they are not infinitely divisible. If by finite extension be meant something distinct from a finite idea, I declare I do not know what that is, and so cannot affirm or deny any thing of it. But if the terms extension, parts, and the like, are taken in any sense conceivable, that is, for ideas; then to say a finite quantity or extension consists of parts infinite in number, is so manifest a contradiction, that every one at first sight acknowledges it to be so. And it is impossible it should ever gain the assent of any reasonable creature, who is not brought to it by gentle and slow degrees, as a converted Gentile to the belief of transubstantiation. Ancient and rooted prejudices do often pass into principles: and those propositions which once obtain the force and credit of a principle, are not only themselves, but likewise whatever is deducible from them, thought privileged from all examination. And there is no absurdity so gross, which by this means the mind of man may not be prepared to swallow.
(Part I, §124, p. 98)",Past Masters,2004-02-18 00:00:00 UTC,4138,"""Ancient and rooted prejudices do often pass into principles: and those propositions which once obtain the force and credit of a principle, are not only themselves, but likewise whatever is deducible from them, thought privileged from all examination. And there is no absurdity so gross, which by this means the mind of man may not be prepared to swallow.""",""
2013-06-05 14:22:48 UTC,,"","•Republished in 1734 in London. Editor uses this second edition.
•Note also, that the light of truth shines on the mind.",Mind's Eye,10641,"From what hath been said it will be manifest to any considering person, that it is merely for want of attention and comprehensiveness of mind, that there are any favourers of atheism or the Manichean heresy to be found. Little and unreflecting souls may indeed burlesque the works of Providence, the beauty and order whereof they have not capacity, or will not be at the pains to comprehend. But those who are masters of any justness and extent of thought, and are withal used to reflect, can never sufficiently admire the divine traces of wisdom and goodness that shine throughout the economy of Nature. But what truth is there which shineth so strongly on the mind, that by an aversion of thought, a wilful shutting of the eyes, we may not escape seeing it? Is it therefore to be wondered at, if the generality of men, who are ever intent on business or pleasure, and little used to fix or open the eye of their mind, should not have all that conviction and evidence of the being of God, which might be expected in reasonable creatures?
(Part I, §154, p. 112)
",Past Masters,2004-02-18 00:00:00 UTC,4138,"""Is it therefore to be wondered at, if the generality of men, who are ever intent on business or pleasure, and little used to fix or open the eye of their mind, should not have all that conviction and evidence of the being of God, which might be expected in reasonable creatures?""",Eye
2013-06-26 17:25:06 UTC,,"",•Crazy! Eye turned round in its socket.,"",10658,"Reflection is the last and greatest Bliss:
When turning backwards with inverted Eyes,
The Soul it self and all its Charms, surveys,
The deep Impressions of Coelestial Grace
And Image of the Godhead: no alloy
Of Flesh, its sprightly Beauties can destroy;
Nor Death nor Fate can snatch the lasting Joy.
Through ev'ry Limb the active Spirit flows;
Diffusing Life and Vigour as it goes,
But is it self unmixt, and free from Dross;
Reflected on its glitt'ring Form it views
All Nature's Works, with eager Steps persues
The Species as they fly, and subtly draws
From single Objects universal Laws:
Thus whilst great Jove the whirling Engine guides,
And o'er the Times and rolling Year presides:
Still, as he turns the rapid Wheels of Chance,
Himself immortal and unchang'd remains,
And when the empty Scene of Nature cloys,
Sinks in the Godhead, and himself enjoys.","Searching in HDIS (Poetry); found again searching ""soul"" and ""impression""",2005-05-17 00:00:00 UTC,4141,"""Reflection is the last and greatest Bliss: / When turning backwards with inverted Eyes, / The Soul it self and all its Charms, surveys, / The deep Impressions of Coelestial Grace /
And Image of the Godhead.""",Eye
2013-07-09 21:27:21 UTC,,"","","",21599,"Now such as these Masters and their Lessons are to a fine Gentleman, such are Philosophers, and Philosophy, to an Author. The Case is the same in the fashionable, and in the literate World. In the former of these 'tis remark'd, that by the help of good Company and the force of Example merely, a decent Carriage is acquir'd, with such apt Motions and such a Freedom of Limbs, as on all ordinary occasions may enable the Party to demean himself like a Gentleman. But when upon further occasion, trial is made in an extraordinary way; when Exercises of the genteeler kind are to be perform'd in publick, 'twill easily appear who of the Pretenders have known Rudiments, and had Masters in private; and who on the other side have contented themselves with bare Imitation, and learnt only casually and by rote. The Parallel is easily made on the side of Writers. They have at least as much need of learning the several Motions, Counterpoises and Ballances of the Mind and Passions, as the other Students those of the Body and Limbs.
(p. 191; p. 86 in Klein)",Reading,2013-07-09 21:27:21 UTC,4136,"The Parallel is easily made on the side of Writers. They have at least as much need of learning the several Motions, Counterpoises and Ballances of the Mind and Passions, as the other Students those of the Body and Limbs.""",""
2014-03-02 19:59:17 UTC,,"","","",23424,"Reading is to the Mind, what Exercise is to the Body. As by the one, Health is preserved, strenthened and invigorated; by the other, Virtue (which is the Health of the Mind) is kept alive, cherished and confirmed. But as Exercise becomes tedious and painful when we make use of it only as the Means of Health, so Reading is apt to grow uneasy and burdensome, when we apply our selves to it only for our Improvement in Virtue. For this Reason, the Virtue which we gather from a Fable, or an Allegory, is like the Health we get by Hunting; as we are engaged in an agreeable Pursuit that draws us on with Pleasure, and makes us insensible of the Fatigues that accompany it.
(III, p. 159; cf. II, p. 331 in Bond ed.)",ECCO-TCP,2014-03-02 19:59:17 UTC,7815,"""Reading is to the Mind, what Exercise is to the Body.""",""
2014-03-02 20:13:31 UTC,,"","","",23427,"It is necessary in this Place to premise, That the Superiority and Force of Mind which is born with Men of great Genius; and which, when it falls in with a noble Imagination, is called Poetical Fury, does not come under my Consideration: but the Pretence to such an Impulse without natural Warmth, shall be allowed a fit Object of this Charity; and all the Volumes written by such Hands, shall be from Time to Time placed in proper Order upon the Rails of the unhoused Booksellers within the District of the College, (who have long inhabited this Quarter) in the same Manner as they are already disposed soon after their Publication. I promise my self from these Writings my best Opiates for those Patients, whose high Imaginations, and hot Spirits, have waked them into Distraction. Their boiling Tempers are not to be wrought upon by my Gruels and Julips, but must ever be employed, or appear to be so, or their Recovery will be impracticable. I shall therefore make Use of such Poets as preserve so constant a Mediocrity, as never to elevate the Mind into Joy, or depress it into Sadness, yet at the same Time keep the Faculties of the Readers in Suspence, tho' they introduce no Idea's of their own. By this Means, a disordered Mind, like a broken Limb, will recover its Strength by the sole Benefit of being out of Use, and lying without Motion. But as Reading is not an Entertainment that can take up the full Time of my Patients, I have now in Pension a proportionable Number of Story-Tellers, who are by Turns to walk about the Galleries of the House, and by their Narrations second the Labours of my pretty good Poets. There are among these Story-Tellers some that have so earnest Countenances, and weighty Brows, that they will draw a Madman, even when his Fit is just coming on, into a Whisper, and by the Force of Shrugs, Nods, and busy Gestures, make him stand amazed so long as that we may have Time to give him his Broth without Danger.
(III, pp. 295-6; cf. II, pp. 452-3 in Bond ed.)",ECCO-TCP,2014-03-02 20:13:31 UTC,7818,"""By this Means, a disordered Mind, like a broken Limb, will recover its Strength by the sole Benefit of being out of Use, and lying without Motion.""",""