Date: 1665

Minds are "like smooth paper never writ upon, / When folded up, by some impression / Marks will remain it never had before, / And ne're return to former smoothness more."

— Howard, Sir Robert (1626-1698)

Date: Jun 12, 1668; 1671

"'Tis so wild [Wildblood's heart], that the Lady who has it in her keeping, would be glad she were well rid on't: it does so flutter about the Cage. 'Tis a meer Bajazet; and if it be not let out the sooner, will beat out the brains against the Grates."

— Dryden, John (1631-1700)

Date: 1673

"[Y]our whole frame [is] as innocent, and holy, as if your being were all soul and spirit, without the gross allay of flesh and bloud"

— Dryden, John (1631-1700)

Date: 1690

"O there's the Rock, on which my Reason splits: / Wou'd that were all!"

— Dryden, John (1631-1700); [Plautus, Molière]

Date: 1696

"For if we look through Reason's never erring Perspective, we then Survey their Souls, and view the Rubbish we were Chaffring for: And such I find, Hillaria's mind is made of."

— Cibber, Colley (1671-1757)

Date: 1696

"Sir--Notwithstanding this provocation, I am calm; but were I like other Men, a Slave to Passion, shou'd not for-bear calling you Impertinent!"

— Cibber, Colley (1671-1757)

Date: 1696

"I cou'd resolve it soon, / Were this curst Being only in Debate. / But my Imoinda struggles in my Soul."

— Southerne, Thomas (1659-1746)

Date: 1700

"To think of a Whirlwind, tho' 'twere in a Whirlwind, were a Case of more steady Contemplation; a very tranquility of Mind and Mansion."

— Congreve, William (1670-1729)

Date: 1701

"Beauty's the least prevailing Snare to me; tho' her great Soul makes me admire her Person; yet were she deform'd, Virtue, like the Sun, wou'd shine through every Cloud."

— Baker, Thomas (b. 1680-1)

Date: 1702

"Now how should he possibly do this, unless he is absolutely free, and undisturbed by tormenting Passions, which bind him, as it were, and if I may use that expression, chain him fast to himself."

— Dennis, John (1658-1734)