The life of Samuel Johnson, Volume 1Penguin Books, Limited, 1820 |
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Page 5
... reasons why these narratives are often written by such as were not likely to give much instruction or delight , and why most accounts of particular persons are barren and useless . If a life be delayed till interest and envy are at an ...
... reasons why these narratives are often written by such as were not likely to give much instruction or delight , and why most accounts of particular persons are barren and useless . If a life be delayed till interest and envy are at an ...
Page 8
... reason to doubt . For there is no instance of any man , whose history has been minutely related , that did not in every part of life discover the same proportion of intel- lectual vigour . " In all such investigations it is certainly ...
... reason to doubt . For there is no instance of any man , whose history has been minutely related , that did not in every part of life discover the same proportion of intel- lectual vigour . " In all such investigations it is certainly ...
Page 21
... reason to be offended : for though Dr. Swinfen's motive was good , he inconsiderately betrayed a matter deeply interesting and of great delicacy , which had been entrusted to him in confidence : and exposed a complaint of his young ...
... reason to be offended : for though Dr. Swinfen's motive was good , he inconsiderately betrayed a matter deeply interesting and of great delicacy , which had been entrusted to him in confidence : and exposed a complaint of his young ...
Page 22
... reason , the disturbance or obscuration of that faculty was the evil most to be dreaded . Insanity , therefore , was the object of his most dismal appre- hension ; and he fancied himself seized by it , or approaching to it , at the very ...
... reason , the disturbance or obscuration of that faculty was the evil most to be dreaded . Insanity , therefore , was the object of his most dismal appre- hension ; and he fancied himself seized by it , or approaching to it , at the very ...
Page 27
... reason to hope for out of my father's effects , previous to the death of my mother ; an event which I pray GOD may be very remote . I now there- fore see that I must make my own fortune . Meanwhile , let me take care that the powers of ...
... reason to hope for out of my father's effects , previous to the death of my mother ; an event which I pray GOD may be very remote . I now there- fore see that I must make my own fortune . Meanwhile , let me take care that the powers of ...
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acquaintance admiration affectionate afterwards appeared asked Beauclerk believe BENNET LANGTON Bishop bookseller character compliments consider conversation David Garrick DEAR SIR death desire Dictionary dined eminent endeavour English Essay favour Francis Barber Garrick gentleman Gentleman's Magazine give Goldsmith happy hear heard Hebrides honour hope humble servant JAMES BOSWELL John Johnson Joseph Warton kind King labour lady Langton language learning letter Lichfield literary lived London Lord Lord Chesterfield Lucy Porter mankind manner mentioned merit mind never obliged observed occasion opinion Oxford Pembroke College perhaps pleased pleasure poem poet published Rambler reason received remarkable Reverend Samuel Johnson Scotland Shakspeare shew Sir John Hawkins Sir Joshua Reynolds suppose sure talked tell thing THOMAS WARTON thought Thrale tion told truth verses Warton wish write written wrote
Popular passages
Page 115 - Having carried on my work thus far with so little obligation to any favourer of learning, I shall not be disappointed though I should conclude it, if less be possible, with less ; for I have been long wakened from that dream of hope, in which I once boasted myself with so much exultation, " My Lord, " Your Lordship's most humble " Most obedient servant,
Page 115 - ... had been kind : but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary, and cannot impart it; till I am known, and do not want it. I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received ; or to be unwilling that the public should consider me as owing that to a patron which Providence has enabled me to do for myself.
Page 418 - Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it.
Page 183 - Mr. Davies mentioned my name, and respectfully introduced me to him. I was much agitated; and recollecting his prejudice against the Scotch, of which I had heard much, I said to Davies, " Don't tell where I come from." —" From Scotland," cried Davies, roguishly. " Mr. Johnson," said I, " I do indeed come from Scotland, but I cannot help it.
Page 84 - And strong devotion to the skies aspires, Pour forth thy fervours for a healthful mind, Obedient passions, and a will resign'd ; For love, which scarce collective man can fill, For patience, sovereign o'er transmuted ill ; For faith, which panting for a happier seat, Counts death kind Nature's signal for retreat.
Page 183 - ... approach to me, somewhat in the manner of an actor in the part of Horatio, when he addresses Hamlet on the appearance of his father's ghost,
Page 398 - There are few ways in which a man can be more innocently employed than in getting money.
Page 27 - Of Gilbert Walmsley, thus presented to my mind, let me indulge myself in the remembrance. I knew him very early; he was one of the first friends that literature procured me, and I hope that at least my gratitude made me worthy of his notice. He was of an advanced age, and I was only not a boy; yet he never received my notions with contempt. He was a Whig, with all the virulence and malevolence of his party; yet difference of opinion did not keep us apart. I honoured him, and he endured me.
Page 204 - When I was running about this town a very poor fellow, I was a great arguer for the advantages of poverty; but I was, at the same time, very sorry to be poor. Sir, all the arguments which are brought to represent poverty as no evil, shew it to be evidently a great evil. You never find people labouring to convince you that you may live very happily upon a plentiful fortune. — So you hear people talking how miserable a King must be; and yet they all wish to be in his place.
Page 115 - Seven years, my lord, have now past, since I waited in your outward rooms, or was repulsed from your door ; during which time I have been pushing on my work through difficulties, of which it is useless to complain, and have brought it, at last, to the verge of publication, without one act of assistance, one word of encouragement, or one smile of favour. Such treatment I did not expect, for I never had a patron before.