The true index of a man's character is the health of his wife.

-Connolly, Cyril Vernon
  The Unquiet Grave, pt.2.

   The face the index of a feeling mind.

-Crabbe, George
  Tales of the Hall,'Lady Barbara', l.124.

Features are an index to the heart.

-Dickens, CharlesJohn Huffam
^4  Martin Chuzzlewit, ch.24.

The world is a great volume, and man the index of that book.

-Donne,John
  'Sermon preached at the Funeral of Sir William Cockayne', 12 Dec.

The real index of this country is the smiles of the people, not the economic index.

-Marcos, Imelda Romualdez
c.1985  Quoted in Sterling Seagrave The Marcos Dynasty.

If frequent teabreaks and other manifestations of disguised leisure are regarded as goodsöand economics suggests that they be so regardedötheir inclusion in any index of output per capita might go some way to enhance Britain's comparative performance.

-Mishan, E J
Quoted in  Alex Rubner Three Sacred Cows of Economics (1970), p.47.

From my pillow, looking forth by light Of moon or favouring stars, I could behold The antechapel where the statue stood Of Newton with his prism and silent face, The marble index of a mind for ever Voyaging through strange seas of Thought alone. 925

-Wordsworth,William
^1805  The Prelude, bk.3, l.58^63 (published1850).