Let us confess a truth, humiliating to human pride; - a very small part only of the opinions of the coolest philosopher are the result of fair reasoning; the rest are formed by his education, his temperament, by the age in which he lives, by trains of thought directed to a particular track through some accidental association - in short, by prejudice.
Anna Letitia BarbauldYoung gentlemen, who are to display their knowledge to the world, should have every motive of emulation, should be formed into regular classes, should read and dispute together, should have all the honors, and, if one may say so, the pomp of learning set before them, to call up their ardor. It is their business, and they should apply to it as such.
Anna Letitia BarbauldTime deals gently with me; and though I feel that I descend, the slope is easy.
Anna Letitia BarbauldForgotten rimes, and college themes, Worm-eaten plans, and embryo schemes; A mass of heterogeneous matter. A chaos dark, nor land nor water.
Anna Letitia BarbauldChild of mortality, whence comest thou? Why is thy countenance sad, and why are thine eyes red with weeping?
Anna Letitia Barbauld