Date: 1724

"So possible is it for us to roll ourselves up in Wickedness, till we grow invulnerable by Conscience; and that Centinel once doz'd, sleeps fast, not to be awaken'd while the Tide of Pleasure continues to flow, or till something dark and dreadful brings us to ourselves again."

— Defoe, Daniel (1660?-1731)

Date: 1724

"Vanity is a lurking subtile Thief, that works itself insensibly into our Bosoms, and while we declare our dislike to it, know not 'tis so near us; every body being (as a witty Gentleman has somewhere said) provided with a Racket to strike it from themselves."

— Davys, Mary (1674-1732)

Date: 1724, 1725

"[Love] that Tyrant Passion lords it o'er the Mind, fills every Faculty, and leaves no room for any other Thought--drives Consideration far away--overturns Reflection-- and permits no Image but itself to dwell in Fancy's Region"

— Haywood [née Fowler], Eliza (1693?-1756)

Date: 1725

"Forgive the harsh Expression, for believe, of all Mankind, I cou'd esteem you as a Friend--but, alas! my Heart wants room to entertain you as a tender Guest; long e're I knew your Merits it was taken up, all the Affections of my Soul are riveted to another--to him I am bound by all the ties of H...

— Haywood [née Fowler], Eliza (1693?-1756)

Date: [1726]

"I will not (continued the God of tender Wishes) prolong the little Narrative I have to make you, by a repetition of her Lamentations when alone, and at liberty to indulge them; you may believe they were extremely violent, and suitable to the Occasion: but as soon as Reason had the power of resum...

— Haywood [née Fowler], Eliza (1693?-1756)

Date: [1726]

"Endeavour at least, to throw each darling Failing from thy Soul; and those Reflections which, in thy coolest Hours of Thought, Reason inspires, retain about thee always; then canst thou never be by any ill Passion sway'd, nor do a Deed which Conscience can condemn: Conscience and Reason still go...

— Haywood [née Fowler], Eliza (1693?-1756)

Date: 1735

"Imagination, Fancy, and Invention, they are wholly Strangers to, nor have any Words in their Language by which those Ideas can be expressed; the whole Compass of their Thoughts and Mind, being shut up within the two forementioned Sciences"

— Swift, Jonathan (1667-1745)

Date: 1736

"As she was one day sitting alone in her Garden, ruminating on the last Words of her Father, and the strict Injunction laid on her concerning the Carcanet, Emotions, to which hitherto she had been a Stranger, began to diffuse themselves throughout her Mind."

— Haywood [née Fowler], Eliza (1693?-1756)

Date: 1741 [1740]; continued in 1741

Pamela talks to her heart which is a "busy Fool" and a "busy Simpleton"

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

Date: 1741 [1740]; continued in 1741

"While an harden'd Mind, that never doubts itself, must be a Stranger to its own Infirmities"

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