Letters on the Improvement of the Mind: Addressed to a Lady |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 20
Page 6
... faults , and his protection from evil , every night : and this not merely in formal words , unac . companied by any act of the mind , but " in spirit and in truth ; " in grateful love , and humble adora- tion . Nor let these stated ...
... faults , and his protection from evil , every night : and this not merely in formal words , unac . companied by any act of the mind , but " in spirit and in truth ; " in grateful love , and humble adora- tion . Nor let these stated ...
Page 26
... faults and infirmities , exalted to the purest and noblest affections , overflowing with Divine love and raptur ous gratitude ; to have your understanding en- lightened and refined , your heart enlarged and purified ; and every power ...
... faults and infirmities , exalted to the purest and noblest affections , overflowing with Divine love and raptur ous gratitude ; to have your understanding en- lightened and refined , your heart enlarged and purified ; and every power ...
Page 32
... faults , both of men and women . The latter are particularly accused , -and not without reason , -of vanity , the vice of little minds , chiefly con- versant with trifling subjects . Pride and vanity * Matt , v . have been supposed to ...
... faults , both of men and women . The latter are particularly accused , -and not without reason , -of vanity , the vice of little minds , chiefly con- versant with trifling subjects . Pride and vanity * Matt , v . have been supposed to ...
Page 35
... faults which find least mercy from the world : yet , alas ! it is a passion so prevailing , I had almost said universal , in our sex , that it re- quires all the efforts of reason , and all the assist . ance of grace , totally to subdue ...
... faults which find least mercy from the world : yet , alas ! it is a passion so prevailing , I had almost said universal , in our sex , that it re- quires all the efforts of reason , and all the assist . ance of grace , totally to subdue ...
Page 36
... faults , in order to correct them . But this is the point in which we are defective ; we are desirous to gain our own approbation , as well as that of others , at a cheaper rate than that of being really what we ought to be ; and we ...
... faults , in order to correct them . But this is the point in which we are defective ; we are desirous to gain our own approbation , as well as that of others , at a cheaper rate than that of being really what we ought to be ; and we ...
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acquainted admiration advantage affection agreeable amiable amusement ancient Apocrypha appear ASSYRIAN EMPIRE attachment attention behaviour blessed book of CHRONICLES book of Kings character Christ Chro companions consider conversation dear dearest degree delicacy delight desire dignity duty endeavour engage entertainment esteem evil excellent expence Father faults feel finer feelings friendship give Greece happiness heart honour hope human important improve indulge innocent interest Israelites Jews Julius Cæsar kind knowledge least lover MACCABEES manner marriage marry mean ment mind moral nature neral ness never observe ourselves particularly passion perhaps perly person pleasure proper pursuits racter reason recommend religion render respect Roman Roman Republic sacking of Rome secret sense sensible sentiments servants shew sincere spirit superior taste temper thing tion true truth tural understanding vanity vate virtue whilst wish woman women young
Popular passages
Page 163 - I know nothing that renders a woman more despicable than her thinking it essential to happiness to be married ! Besides the gross indelicacy of the sentiment, it is a false one, as thousands of women have experienced.
Page 22 - Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do unto them ; for this is the law and the prophets.
Page 53 - Though thou drawest a sword at a friend, yet despair not, for there may be a returning to favour; if thou hast opened thy mouth against thy friend, fear not, for there may be a reconciliation ; except for upbraiding, or pride, or disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound ; for, for these things every friend will depart.
Page 54 - Whoso discovereth secrets, loseth his credit, and shall never find a friend to his mind. Love thy friend, and be faithful unto him; but if thou betrayest his secrets, follow no more after him: for as a man hath destroyed his enemy, so hast thou lost the love of thy friend; as one that letteth a bird go out of his hand, so hast thou let thy friend go, and...
Page 150 - I would have you to dance with spirit ; but never allow yourselves to be so far transported with mirth, as to forget the delicacy of your sex.— Many a girl, dancing in the gaiety and innocence of her heart, is thought to discover a spirit she little dreams of.
Page 73 - which has the promise of this life as well as of that which is to come.
Page 54 - ... not get him again. Follow after him no more, for he is too far off ; he is as a roe escaped out of the snare. As for a wound, it may be bound up, and after reviling there may be reconciliation ; but he that bewrayeth secrets, is without hope.
Page 94 - As to the learned languages, though I respect the abilities and application of those ladies who have attained them, and who make a modest and proper use of them, yet I would by no means advise you, or any other woman, who is not strongly impelled by a particular genius, to engage in such studies.
Page 90 - Young ladies, of nearly your own age, who visit there, fall of course to your share to entertain: but whilst you exert yourself to make their visit agreeable to them, you must not forget what is due to the elder part of the company, nor, by whispering and laughing apart, give them cause to suspect, what is too often true, that they themselves are the subjects of your mirth.
Page 163 - All this is owing to an exuberant activity of spirit, which, if it had found employment at home, would have rendered them respectable and useful members of society. I see other women, in the same situation, gentle, modest, blessed with sense, taste, delicacy, and every milder feminine virtue of the heart, but of weak spirits, bashful, and timid. I see such women sinking into obscurity and insignificance, and gradually losing every elegant accomplishment, for this evident reason, that they are not...