Essays and Treatises on Several Subjects |
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Page 71
... character of the fair- sex was considered as altogether domestic ; nor were they regarded as part of the polite world , or of good company . This , perhaps , is the true reason why the ancients have not left us one piece of pleasantry ...
... character of the fair- sex was considered as altogether domestic ; nor were they regarded as part of the polite world , or of good company . This , perhaps , is the true reason why the ancients have not left us one piece of pleasantry ...
Page 93
... characters . Of all the great poets , Virgil , and Racine , in my opinion , lie nearest the centre , and are the farthest removed from both the extre- mities . My second observation on this head is , That it is very difficult , if not ...
... characters . Of all the great poets , Virgil , and Racine , in my opinion , lie nearest the centre , and are the farthest removed from both the extre- mities . My second observation on this head is , That it is very difficult , if not ...
Page 98
... character to the ancient ; and that , if we be superior in philosophy , we are still , not- withstanding all our refinements , much inferior in eloquence . In ancient times , no work of genius was thought to require so great parts and ...
... character to the ancient ; and that , if we be superior in philosophy , we are still , not- withstanding all our refinements , much inferior in eloquence . In ancient times , no work of genius was thought to require so great parts and ...
Page 113
... character have , no doubt , more lively enjoyments , as well as more pungent sorrows , than men of cool and sedate tempers : but , I believe , when every hing is balanced , there is no one who would not ather be of the latter character ...
... character have , no doubt , more lively enjoyments , as well as more pungent sorrows , than men of cool and sedate tempers : but , I believe , when every hing is balanced , there is no one who would not ather be of the latter character ...
Page 116
... characters , or in marking those insensible differences and grada- tions , which make one man preferable to another . Any one , that has competent sense , is sufficient for their entertainment ; they talk to him , of their pleasures and ...
... characters , or in marking those insensible differences and grada- tions , which make one man preferable to another . Any one , that has competent sense , is sufficient for their entertainment ; they talk to him , of their pleasures and ...
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Common terms and phrases
admiration advantages affection agreeable ancient appear Appian approbation arises arts and sciences Athenians attention authority balance of trade barbarous beauty blame causes character chiefly Cicero civilized comitia comitia centuriata comitia tributa commerce common common bent commonly Ctesiphon cultivated degree delicacy Demosthenes DIODORUS SICULUS discourse dities elegant eloquence employed England enjoyment Epaminondas esteemed favour foreign former genius give greater Greece happiness honour human imagination industry instance Iphicrates judgment kind kingdom labour learning less liberty luxury mankind manner manufactures ment merit mind monarchy moral nations nature neighbouring never noble objects observation orators Ovid particular passions perfection person philosophers Phocion pleasure Plutarch poets polite Polybius possessed prejudice present pretend principles produce proper reason refinement regard relish render republic requisite riches Roman says sense sensible sentiment society sovereign species sublime superior taste Thucydides tion trade vice virtue
Popular passages
Page 122 - Beauty is no quality in things themselves : it exists merely in the mind which contemplates them; and each mind perceives a different beauty.
Page 121 - All sentiment is right; because sentiment has a reference to nothing beyond itself, and is always real, wherever a man is conscious of it. But all determinations of the understanding are not right, because they have a reference to something beyond themselves, — to wit, real matter of fact, and are not always conformable to that standard.
Page 128 - Though it be certain that beauty and deformity, more than sweet and bitter, are not qualities in objects, but belong entirely to the sentiment, internal or external, it must be allowed that there are certain qualities in objects which are fitted by nature to produce those particular feelings.
Page 204 - Nature must have provided some other principle, of more ready and more general use and application ; nor can an operation of such immense consequence in life as that of inferring effects, from causes, be trusted to the uncertain process of reasoning and argumentation.
Page 118 - Every voice is united in applauding elegance, propriety, simplicity, spirit in writing; and in blaming fustian, affectation, coldness, and a false brilliancy. But when critics come to particulars, this seeming unanimity vanishes; and it is found, that they had affixed a very different meaning to their expressions.
Page 137 - Thus, though the principles of taste be universal, and nearly, if not entirely, the same in all men ; yet few are qualified to give judgment on any work of art, or establish their own sentiment as the standard of beauty.
Page 126 - ... and if they fail of their effect in any particular instance, it is from some apparent defect or imperfection in the organ. A man in a fever would not insist on his palate as able to decide concerning flavours; nor would one, aifected with the jaundice, pretend to give a verdict with regard to colours.
Page 40 - ... upon the importation of many different sorts of foreign goods, in order to discourage their consumption in Great Britain, have in many cases served only to encourage smuggling, and in all cases have reduced the revenue of the customs below what more moderate duties would have afforded. The saying of Dr. Swift, that in the arithmetic of the customs two and two, instead of making four, make sometimes only one, holds perfectly true with regard to such heavy duties...
Page 117 - One that has well digested his knowledge, both of books and men, has little enjoyment but in the company of a few select companions. He feels too sensibly how much all the rest of mankind fall short of the notions which he has entertained; and his affections being thus confined within a narrow circle, no wonder he carries them further than if they were more general and undistinguished. The gayety and frolic of a bottle companion improves with him into a solid friendship ; and the ardors of a youthful...
Page 91 - Nothing can please persons of taste, but nature drawn with all her graces and ornaments, la belle nature ; or if we copy low life, the strokes must be strong and remarkable, and must convey a lively image to the mind.