Date: 1743

"When Reason doubtful, like the Samian letter, / Points him two ways, the narrower is the better."

— Pope, Alexander (1688-1744)

Date: 1743

"The native Anarchy of the mind is that state which precedes the time of Reason's assuming the rule of the Passions"

— Pope, Alexander (1688-1744)

Date: 1743

Dullness in the "absence of Reason," tho' she cannot regulate the Passions like Reason, yet blunts and deadens their Vigour, and, indeed, produces some of the good effects"

— Pope, Alexander (1688-1744)

Date: 1743

"Mr. Dennis argues the same way. 'My writings having made great impression on the minds of all sensible men'"

— Pope, Alexander (1688-1744)

Date: 1743

"Whereas fire in a Genius is truly Promethean, it hurts not its constituent parts, but only fits it (as it does well-tempered steel) for the necessary impressions of art."

— Pope, Alexander (1688-1744)

Date: 1746, 1749

"Such Rancour this, of such a poisonous Vein, / As never, never, shall my Paper stain: / Much less infect my Heart"

— Francis, Philip (1708-1773)

Date: 1746, 1749

"For the hurt Eye an instant Cure you find; Then why neglect, for Years, the sickening Mind?"

— Francis, Philip (1708-1773)

Date: 1746, 1749

"For Peace and War succeed by Turns in Love, / And while tempestuous these Emotions roll, / And float with blind Disorder in the Soul."

— Francis, Philip (1708-1773)

Date: 1748

"[B]ut now that I looked upon myself as a murderer, it is impossible to express the terrors of my imagination, which was incessantly haunted by the image of the deceased, and my bosom stung with the most exquisite agonies, of which I saw no end."

— Smollett, Tobias (1721-1777)

Date: 1748

"[A]nd in the mean time went to dress, with an intention of visiting Mrs. Snapper and Miss, whom I had utterly neglected and indeed almost forgot, since my dear Narcissa had resumed the empire of my soul."

— Smollett, Tobias (1721-1777)