Propension

If they died by violent hands, and were thrust into their urns, these bones become considerable, and some old philosophers would honour them, whose souls they conceived most pure, which were thus snatched from their bodies, and to retain a stronger propension unto them; whereas they weariedly left a languishing corpse and with faint desires of reunion. ❋ Unknown (2007)

And if at any time the charms of poetry transport him into any disquieting passions, he will quickly say to himself, as Homer very elegantly (considering the propension of that sex to listen after fables) says in his Necyia, or relation of the state of the dead, — ❋ Unknown (2004)

The appetite, being stirred up by the imaginative, effectually moves man to that which is proper and agreeable to his nature, just as when there is made a propension. and inclination in the principal and reasonable part. ❋ Unknown (2004)

For they could not, what attempts and stirs soever they made, obtain so much from the instinct by which the appetite is moved to act, as to suffer itself to be called an assent, or to acknowledge sense for the origin and principle of its propension, but it appeared of its own accord to present itself to act, as having no need to be joined with anything else. ❋ Unknown (2004)

From these suppositions, with many other of like import, it is evident that there is a pregnant, strong, overpowering propension in all true believers to walk holily and to live righteously: so that to refrain sinning in the kind intended is no such great mastery, no such matter of difficulty, unto such men; and that when they are overcome and fall into sin, it is through a mere voluntary neglect. ❋ 1616-1683 (1966)

They have, indeed, a propension to holiness ruling in them, but also a propension unto sin dwelling in them; so that “when they would do good, evil is present with them, and the good they would do they cannot.” ❋ 1616-1683 (1966)

It is true, their propension unto righteousness reigneth in them, but it is as true their propension unto sin rebelleth in them. ❋ 1616-1683 (1966)

It is the duty of every true friend of humanity and order, to protest against perverted sensibilities or sophistical refinements, which find warrant or apology for depraved appetites, -- for the worst distemperature of the mind, and the most fatal catastrophes, -- in natural propension, and unrestrained feeling. ❋ Benj. N. Martin (N/A)

The harshness of a stepmother, and her own indulged propension to vice, cast her headlong into the greatest disorders. ❋ Alban Butler (N/A)

Marches; who, to his natural propension of ingenuity, had the addition of good Education, being bred up first in _Oxford_, afterwards, for a while a Student of the Law in the _Middle Temple_; soon after he cast ❋ William Winstanley (N/A)

These actions also need no recommendation from any subjective taste or sentiment, that they may be looked on with immediate favour and satisfaction: they need no immediate propension or feeling for them; they exhibit the will that performs them as an object of an immediate respect, and nothing but reason is required to impose them on the will; not to flatter it into them, which, in the case of duties, would be a contradiction. ❋ Unknown (1909)

If the reason should afterwards be sought, why the greatest geniuses who have been incorporated into that body have sometimes made the worst speeches, I answer, that it is wholly owing to a strong propension, the gentlemen in question had to shine, and to display a thread-bare, worn-out subject in a new and uncommon light. ❋ Voltaire (1909)

The barber (to be brief) did all that which the curate pleased, and making thus an exchange of inventions, the curate instructed him how he should behave himself, and what words he should use to Don Quixote to press and move him to come away with him, and forsake the propension and love of that place which he had chosen to perform his vain penance. ❋ Unknown (1909)

But with all their propension to learning and their love of philosophy, they were primarily and fundamentally _religious_ -- they were disciples of Christ rather than disciples of Plato and Plotinus. ❋ Rufus Matthew Jones (1905)

In this poem he has endeavoured to establish and exemplify his favourite theory of the ruling passion, by which he means an original direction of desire to some particular object, an innate affection which gives all action a determinate and invariable tendency, and operates upon the whole system of life, either openly, cut more secretly by the intervention of some accidental or subordinate propension. ❋ Johnson, Samuel (1891)

With the same Generosity and strong propension of mind to enlarge the Boundaries of Learning, he converted a wast Room, scituate in the East side of the Cloysters, into _Plato's_ Portico, into a goodly Library; model'd it into decent shape, furnished it with Desks and ❋ John Willis Clark (1871)

There is properly no _simplicity_ in it at one time, nor _identity_ in different, whatever natural propension we may have to imagine that simplicity and identity. ❋ Thomas Henry Huxley (1860)

It is he with whom there is so abundant pity, and kindness; so strong a propension and inclination to do good to the necessitous and miserable, only because his will inclines and leads him thereunto: the Spring and Fountain of all that pity and mercy, that is any where to be found, diffused among his creatures. ❋ 1630-1705 (1822)

A propension to, and a resolution of being wicked, are for the most part victorious, generally governing in the minds of men; so as that the truths they hold, they hold in unrighteousness. ❋ 1630-1705 (1822)

Therefore it is not this, or that act of love towards God, that gives the denomination; but the habitual propension, and bent of the heart. ❋ 1630-1705 (1822)