"In a Glass-House, the Workmen often fling in a small quantity of fresh Coals, which seems to disturb the Fire, but very much enlivens it. This seems to allude to a gentle stirring of the Passions, that the Mind may not languish."

— Swift, Jonathan (1667-1745)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for John Morphew, near Stationer's-Hall
Date
1713
Metaphor
"In a Glass-House, the Workmen often fling in a small quantity of fresh Coals, which seems to disturb the Fire, but very much enlivens it. This seems to allude to a gentle stirring of the Passions, that the Mind may not languish."
Metaphor in Context
In a Glass-House, the Workmen often fling in a small quantity of fresh Coals, which seems to disturb the Fire, but very much enlivens it. This seems to allude to a gentle stirring of the Passions, that the Mind may not languish.
(p. 235)
Provenance
Reading
Citation
Jonathan Swift, Various Thoughts, Moral and Diverting in Miscellanies in Prose and Verse, 2nd edition (London: Printed for John Morphew, near Stationer's-Hall, [1713][1714]). <Link to ESTC>

Written in 1706. See also 1726 and later publications under the title Thoughts on Various Subjects, which expands the original publication. Modernized text consulted at Project Gutenberg.
Date of Entry
09/07/2023

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