"It is also by this Association of Ideas that we may better imprint any new Idea upon the Memory by joining with it some Circumstance of the Time, Place, Company, &c. wherein we first observed, heard or learnt it."

— Watts, Isaac (1674-1748)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for James Brackstone
Date
1741
Metaphor
"It is also by this Association of Ideas that we may better imprint any new Idea upon the Memory by joining with it some Circumstance of the Time, Place, Company, &c. wherein we first observed, heard or learnt it."
Metaphor in Context
It is also by this Association of Ideas that we may better imprint any new Idea upon the Memory by joining with it some Circumstance of the Time, Place, Company, &c. wherein we first observed, heard or learnt it. If we would recover an absent Idea, it: is useful to recollect those Circumstances of Time, Place, &c. The Substance will many times be recover'd and brought to the Thoughts by recollecting the Shadow: A Man recurs to our Fancy by remembering his Garment, his Size, or Stature, his Office, or Employment, &c. A Beast, Bird or Fish by its Colour, Figure or Motion, by the Cage or Court-yard or Cistern wherein it was kept, &c.
(pp. 274-5)
Provenance
Searching and Reading in Google Books
Citation
32 entries in ESTC (1741, 1743, 1753, 1754, 1761, 1768, 1773, 1782, 1784, 1785, 1786, 1787, 1789, 1790, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1798, 1799, 1800).

Most text drawn from Google Books. See The Improvement of the Mind: or, a Supplement to the Art of Logick: Containing a Variety of Remarks and Rules for the Attainment and Communication of Useful Knowledge, in Religion, in the Sciences, and in Common Life. By I. Watts, D.D. (London: Printed for James Brackstone, at the Globe in Cornhill, 1741). <Link to ESTC><Link to 2nd edition in Google Books>

Date of Entry
02/05/2014

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