JOURNAL ARTICLE

A. F. Pollard as Unwitting Originator of the Phrase 'I would not Open Windows into Men's Souls'.

  • Published In: Notes & Queries, 2025, v. 72, n. 1. P. 41 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: McGovern, Jonathan 3 of 3

Abstract

The article explores the origins of the phrase "I would not open windows into men's souls," commonly attributed to Queen Elizabeth I. It traces the phrase back to Francis Bacon, who used similar wording in his writings. The variant of the phrase with "souls" instead of "hearts" was introduced by A. F. Pollard in the early 20th century. The article clarifies that the phrase was not actually spoken by Queen Elizabeth I, but rather originated from Bacon and was later popularized by Pollard and subsequent historians. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Notes & Queries. 2025/03, Vol. 72, Issue 1, p41
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0029-3970
  • DOI:10.1093/notesj/gjae142
  • Accession Number:184955038
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