“A multitude of causes unknown to former times are now acting with a combined force to blunt the discriminating powers of the mind, and unfitting it for all voluntary exertion to reduce it to a state of almost savage torpor.”
Preface.
Lyrical Ballads (1798–1800)
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William Wordsworth 306
English Romantic poet 1770–1850Related quotes

A Vindication of Natural Society (1756)
Context: The rich in all societies may be thrown into two classes. The first is of those who are powerful as well as rich, and conduct the operations of the vast political machine. The other is of those who employ their riches wholly in the acquisition of pleasure. As to the first sort, their continual care and anxiety, their toilsome days and sleepless nights, are next to proverbial. These circumstances are sufficient almost to level their condition to that of the unhappy majority; but there are other circumstances which place them in a far lower condition. Not only their understandings labour continually, which is the severest labour, but their hearts are torn by the worst, most troublesome, and insatiable of all passions, by avarice, by ambition, by fear and jealousy. No part of the mind has rest. Power gradually extirpates from the mind every humane and gentle virtue. Pity, benevolence, friendship, are things almost unknown in high stations.

Yanni in Words. Miramax Books. Co-author David Rensin

"Kingdom of Fear" (12 September 2001)
2000s
Context: The towers are gone now, reduced to bloody rubble, along with all hopes for Peace in Our Time, in the United States or any other country. Make no mistake about it: We are At War now — with somebody — and we will stay At War with that mysterious Enemy for the rest of our lives.

Source: Merry Christmas, Peter Rabbit!

“Men of power have not time to read; yet men who do not read are unfit for power”
On Benjamin Disraeli, in his own book, 'Debts of Honour
1980s

1870s, On the Hypothesis that Animals are Automata, and Its History (1874)
Considering the Snail (l. 5-10)
Collected Poems by Thom Gunn (1994)