Date: 1743

"[T]here is still a Judge in every Man's Breast, which none can cheat nor corrupt, tho' perhaps it is the only uncorrupt Thing about him. And yet, inflexible and honest as this Judge is, (however polluted the Bench be on he sits) no man can, in my Opinion, enjoy any Applause which is not thus adj...

— Fielding, Henry (1707-1754)

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)

Date: 1747-8

"Riches were, are, and always will be, his predominant passion."

— Richardson, Samuel (bap. 1689, d. 1761)

Date: 1747-8

"My predominant passion is Girl, not Gold; nor value I This, but as it helps me to That, and gives me independence."

— Richardson, Samuel (bap. 1689, d. 1761)

Date: 1747-8

"But let me touch upon thy predominant passion, Revenge; for Love [What can be the love of a rake?] is but second to that, as I have often told thee, tho' it has set thee into raving at me."

— Richardson, Samuel (bap. 1689, d. 1761)

Date: 1747-8

"But by the fierceness of mine, as my trembling hands seized hers, I soon made fear her predominant passion."

— Richardson, Samuel (bap. 1689, d. 1761)

Date: 1747-8

"How difficult does every man find it, as well as me, to forego a predominant passion? I have three passions that sway me by turns; all imperial ones. Love, Revenge, Ambition, or a desire of conquest."

— Richardson, Samuel (bap. 1689, d. 1761)

Date: 1747-8

"See that your own predominant passions, whatever they be, hurry you not into as much wickedness, as mine do me."

— Richardson, Samuel (bap. 1689, d. 1761)

Date: 1747-8

"Who, let me ask, that has it in his power to gratify a predominant passion, be it what it will, denies himself the gratification?"

— Richardson, Samuel (bap. 1689, d. 1761)

Date: 1747-8

"And if he does, it will demonstrate that malice and revenge were the predominant passions with him"

— Richardson, Samuel (bap. 1689, d. 1761)