"But Heaven, who knows our Frame, and graciously distinguishes between Frailty and Presumption, will make a Difference, tho' Man cannot, who sees not the Heart, but only judges by the outward Action."

— Lillo, George (1691/3-1739)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Gray
Date
June 22, 1731
Metaphor
"But Heaven, who knows our Frame, and graciously distinguishes between Frailty and Presumption, will make a Difference, tho' Man cannot, who sees not the Heart, but only judges by the outward Action."
Metaphor in Context
THOR.
Had I known your cruel Design sooner, it had been prevented. To see you punish'd as the Law directs, is all that now remains.--Poor Satisfaction,--for he, innocent as he is, compared to you, must suffer too. But Heaven, who knows our Frame, and graciously distinguishes between Frailty and Presumption, will make a Difference, tho' Man cannot, who sees not the Heart, but only judges by the outward Action.--
(IV.xvi)
Provenance
Searching "heart" and "judge" in HDIS (Drama)
Citation
Over 80 entries in ESTC (1731, 1733, 1735, 1737, 1740, 1743, 1745, 1746, 1747, 1750, 1751, 1754, 1757, 1758, 1759, 1760, 1762, 1763, 1764, 1766, 1768, 1769, 1770, 1772, 1773, 1774, 1775, 1776, 1777, 1778, 1780, 1782, 1783, 1785, 1787, 1788, 1790, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1796, 1798, 1799, 1800).

See The London Merchant: or, the History of George Barnwell. As it is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. By His Majesty's Servants. By Mr. Lillo (London: Printed for J. Gray, 1731). <Link to ECCO-TCP>
Theme
Inner and Outer
Date of Entry
10/18/2004

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.