Sarah Fielding

“ To conclude, I hope, for the Sake of my fair Country-Women, that these excellent Pictures of Virtue and Vice, which, to my Knowledge, the Author hath bestowed such Pains in drawing, will not be thrown away on the World, but that much more Advantage may accrue to the Reader, than the Good-nature and Sensibility of the Age have, to their immortal Honour, bestowed on the Author. ”

“ It is indeed a Glass, by which they may dress out their Minds, and adorn themselves with more becoming, as well as more lasting Graces, than the Dancing-Master, the Manteau-Maker, or the Millener can give them. ”

“ But in reality the Knowledge of Human Nature is not learnt by living in the Hurry of the World. True Genius, with the help of a little Conversation, will be capable of making a vast Progress in this Learning ”

“ This Gentleman in his Persian Letters, many of which are written on the most important Subjects in Ethics, Politics, and Philosophy, hath condescended to introduce two or three Novels: in these they will find that inimitable Writer very judiciously changing the Style which he uses on other Occasions, where the Subjects of his Letters require the Air and Style of Conversation; to preserve which, in relating Stories that run to any length, would be faulty in the Writer, and tiresome to the Reader. ”

“ If this be fact, as I sincerely believe it is, whence can it proceed, but from the Ignorance in which the artificial Behaviour of Women leaves us, of what really passes in their Minds, and which, like all other Mysteries, is known only to the Initiated?
Many of the foregoing Assertions will, I question not, meet with very little Assent from those great and wise Men, who are not only absolute Masters of some poor Woman's Person, but likewise of her Thoughts. ”

“ Here they must learn, if they will please to attend, that Consummation of a Woman's Character, is to maintain the Qualities of Goodness, Tenderness, Affection and Sincerity, in the several social Offices and Duties of Life; and not to unite Ambition, Avarice, Luxury, and Wanton-ness in the Person of a Woman of the World, or to affect Folly, Childishness and Levity, under the Appellation of a fine Lady. ”

“ And here I cannot controll myself from averring, that many Touches of this kind appear to me in these Letters; some of which I cannot help thinking as fine, as I have ever met with in any of the Authors, who have made human Nature their Subject.
As such Observations are generally supposed to be the Effects of long Experience in, and much Acquaintance with Mankind, it may perhaps surprize many, to find them in the Works of a Woman ”

“ In the next Branch may be ranked those Letters, which have past between Men of Eminence in the Republic of Literature. Many of these are in high Estimation in the learned World, in which they are considered as having equal Authority to that, which the political World allows to those of the first Class. ”