Date: 1759

"That a Man may be scarce less ignorant of his own powers, than an Oyster of its pearl, or a Rock of its diamond; that he may possess dormant, unsuspected abilities, till awakened by loud calls, or stung up by striking emergencies, is evident from the sudden eruption of some men, out of perfec...

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)

Date: 1759

"But if an Original, by being as excellent, as new, adds admiration to surprize, then are we at the writer's mercy; on the strong wing of his imagination, we are snatched from Britain to Italy, from climate to climate, from pleasure to pleasure; we have no home, no thou...

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)

Date: 1759

"It is with Thoughts, as it is with Words; and with both, as with Men; they may grow old, and die."

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)

Date: 1759

"So Thoughts, when become too common, should lose their Currency; and we should send new metal to the Mint, that is, new meaning to the Press."

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)

Date: 1759

"When we read, let our imagination kindle at their charms; when we write, let our judgment shut them out of our thoughts; treat even Homer himself, as his royal admirer was treated by the cynic; bid him stand aside, nor shade our Composition from the beams of our own genius; for nothing Original ...

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)

Date: 1759

"Are not our minds cast in the same mould with those before the flood? The flood affected matter; mind escaped."

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)

Date: 1759

"In the fairyland of fancy, genius may wander wild; there it has a creative power, and may reign arbitrarily over its own empire of chimeras."

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)

Date: 1759

"No two faces, no two minds, are just alike; but all bear nature's evident mark of separation on them."

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)

Date: 1759

"Incumbered with the notions of others, and impoverished by their abundance, he conceives not the least embryo of new thought; opens not the least vista thro' the gloom of ordinary writers, into the bright walks of rare imagination, and singular design."

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)

Date: 1759

"How have thy Houyhnhunms thrown thy judgment from its seat, and laid thy imagination in the mire?"

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)