Date: May 16, 1699

"All others have a right to be followed as far as I, i.e. as far as the evidence of what they say convinces; and of that my own understanding alone must be judge for me, and nothing else."

— Locke, John (1632-1704)

Date: 1709, 1714

"And I am persuaded, that had Reason herself been to judg of her own Interest, she wou'd have thought she receiv'd more Advantage in the main from that easy and familiar way, than from the usual stiff Adherence to a particular Opinion."

— Cooper, Anthony Ashley, third earl of Shaftesbury (1671-1713)

Date: 1709, 1714

"But according to refin'd Sense, the only well-advis'd Persons, as to this World, are errant Knaves; and they alone are thought to serve themselves, who serve their Passions, and indulge their loosest Appetites and Desires."

— Cooper, Anthony Ashley, third earl of Shaftesbury (1671-1713)

Date: 1720

"The Goths were not so barbarous a Race / As the grim Rusticks of this motly Place; / Of Reason void, and Thought, whom Int'rest rules, / Yet will be Knaves tho' Nature meant them Fools."

— Diaper, William (1686-1717)

Date: January 3, 1750-51, 1807

"It is the privilege of the good, to establish their empire in the hearts of their dependents; this is the triumph of my dear Mr. Richardson; and then indeed does his excellent heart exult, when he sees every one the happier and better for their connexion with him!"

— Mulso [later Chapone], Hester (1727-1801)

Date: 1751

"Nothing of body, when friend writes to friend; the mind impelling sovereignly the vassal-fingers."

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

Date: 1754

One may pursue his own predominant passion

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

Date: 1754

Gratitude may raise a throne for someone in one's heart

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

Date: 1754

"You will be greater than Clementina, and that is greater than the greatest, if you can conquer a passion, that over-turned her reason"

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

Date: 1754

There is "narrow-hearted race of men, who live only for the gratification of their own lawless appetites, and consider all the rest of the world as made for themselves"

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