The passions may be supplied with food

— Brown, Charles Brockden (1771-1810)


Place of Publication
New York
Publisher
George Folliet Hopkins
Date
1800
Metaphor
The passions may be supplied with food
Metaphor in Context
I was indebted for my safety to an inflexible adherence to this medium. To have strayed, for a moment, to either side, would have brought upon me his blows. that he did not instantly resort to violence, inspired me with courage, since it depended on myself whether food should be supplied to his passion. Rage must either progress or decline, and since it was in total want of provocation, it could not fail of gradually subsiding.

My demeanor was calculated to damp the flame, not only by its direct influence, but by diverting his attention from the wrongs which he had received, to the novelty of my behaviour.
(Part II, chapter 10, p. 505)
Provenance
Reading
Citation
2 entries in ESTC (1799, 1800).

First part published in 1799; second in 1800. Reading and transcribing text from Charles Brockden Brown, Three Gothic Novels. New York: Library of America,1998.

See Arthur Mervyn; or, Memoirs of the Year 1793. Second Part. By the author of Wieland, Ormond, Huntley [sic], &c. (New-York: Printed and sold by George F. Hopkins, at Washington’s Head, 136, Pearl-Street, 1800). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
07/21/2003

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.