"Momus well wished a window in every man's breast. Physiognomists pretend they can take a peep through the features of the face; but this is too abstruse a science to answer the general purposes of life; besides that education may render such knowledge doubtful, as in the case of Socrates."

— Griffith, Elizabeth (1720-1793)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for T. Cadell
Date
1775
Metaphor
"Momus well wished a window in every man's breast. Physiognomists pretend they can take a peep through the features of the face; but this is too abstruse a science to answer the general purposes of life; besides that education may render such knowledge doubtful, as in the case of Socrates."
Metaphor in Context
Momus well wished a window in every man's breast. Physiognomists pretend they can take a peep through the features of the face; but this is too abstruse a science to answer the general purposes of life; besides that education may render such knowledge doubtful, as in the case of Socrates. The diseases or unsoundness of the body are generally visible in the countenance and complexion of the invalid; how infinitely more useful would it be, if the vices of the mind were as obvious there! It is not necessary in the first case, because the patient can tell his disorder; but, in the other instance, the infected person is dumb.
(p. 410)
Provenance
Searching ECCO-TCP
Citation
3 entries in ECCO and ESTC (1775, 1777).

Text from The Morality of Shakespeare's Drama Illustrated: By Mrs. Griffith. (London: Printed for T. Cadell, 1775). <Link to ECCO-TCP>
Date of Entry
11/15/2013

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