The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.G. Walker, 1820 |
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Page 5
... believe and value ; we rather pity him . " JOHNSON . Why , Sir , to be sure when you wish a man to have that belief which you think is of infinite advantage , you wish well to him ; but your primary consideration is your own quiet . If ...
... believe and value ; we rather pity him . " JOHNSON . Why , Sir , to be sure when you wish a man to have that belief which you think is of infinite advantage , you wish well to him ; but your primary consideration is your own quiet . If ...
Page 6
... believe Mr. Murray was very much influ- enced by what he had heard to - day , in his determination to send his own son to West- minster school . I have acted in the same manner with regard to my own two sons ; having placed the eldest ...
... believe Mr. Murray was very much influ- enced by what he had heard to - day , in his determination to send his own son to West- minster school . I have acted in the same manner with regard to my own two sons ; having placed the eldest ...
Page 16
... believe , the last of that profession called Scriveners , which is one of the London companies , but of which the business is no longer carried on separately , but is transacted by attornies and others . He was a man of litera- ture and ...
... believe , the last of that profession called Scriveners , which is one of the London companies , but of which the business is no longer carried on separately , but is transacted by attornies and others . He was a man of litera- ture and ...
Page 22
... believe , Sir , there is not ; but it is better that some should be unhappy , than that none should be happy , which would be the case in a general state of equality . " When the service was ended , I went home with him , and we sat ...
... believe , Sir , there is not ; but it is better that some should be unhappy , than that none should be happy , which would be the case in a general state of equality . " When the service was ended , I went home with him , and we sat ...
Page 23
... believe not , Sir . While grief is fresh , every attempt to divert only irritates . You must wait till grief be digested , and then amusement will dissipate the remains of it . " At dinner , Mr. Murphy entertained us with the history C ...
... believe not , Sir . While grief is fresh , every attempt to divert only irritates . You must wait till grief be digested , and then amusement will dissipate the remains of it . " At dinner , Mr. Murphy entertained us with the history C ...
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Common terms and phrases
acquaintance admired affectionate afterwards appeared Ashbourne asked Auchinleck authour Beauclerk believe Bishop booksellers censure character Cibber consider conversation Court of Session DEAR SIR death Dilly dined dinner Dodd drink Edinburgh elegant Elkanah Settle English entertained favour Garrick gentleman give Goldsmith happy hear heard Hebrides honour hope House of Lords Hugh Blair humble servant humour JAMES BOSWELL John kindness KNOWLES lady Langton late learning letter liberty live London Lord Lord Monboddo Lordship Lucy Porter Madam mentioned mind never obliged observed once opinion Percy perhaps pleased pleasure poem Poets Pope praise publick racter recollect respect SAMUEL JOHNSON Scotch Scotland sermons shewed Sir Joshua Reynolds Streatham suppose sure talked Taylor tell thing thought Thrale tion told travels truth Whig Wilkes wine wish words write wrote
Popular passages
Page 199 - Whatever withdraws us from the power of our senses ; whatever makes the past, the distant, or the future predominate over the present, advances us in the dignity of thinking beings. Far from me and from my friends be such frigid philosophy, as may conduct us indifferent and unmoved over any ground which has been dignified by wisdom, bravery, or virtue. That man is little to be envied, whose patriotism would not gain force upon the plain of Marathon, or whose piety would not grow warmer among the...
Page 198 - WE were now treading that illustrious Island, which was once the luminary of the Caledonian regions, whence savage clans and roving barbarians derived the benefits of knowledge, and the blessings of religion. To abstract the mind from all local emotion would be impossible, if it were endeavoured, and would be foolish, if it were possible.
Page 104 - ALMIGHTY God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men ; Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise ; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found ; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Page 71 - Having no good opinion of the fellow, I was resolved not to be pleased ; and it is very difficult to please a man against his will. I went on eating my dinner pretty sullenly, affecting not to mind him. But the dog was so very comical, that I was obliged to lay down my knife and fork, throw myself back upon my chair, and fairly laugh it out. No, Sir, he was irresistible.* He, upon one occasion, experienced, in an extraordinary degree, the efficacy of his powers of entertaining.
Page 42 - It having been mentioned, I know not with what truth, that a certain female political writer, whose doctrines he disliked, had of late become very fond of dress, sat hours together at her toilet, and even put on rouge: — JOHNSON. " She is better employed at her toilet, than using her pen. It is better she should be reddening her own cheeks, than blackening other people's characters.
Page 74 - You will allow his 'Apology' to be well done." JOHNSON. "Very well done, to be sure, Sir. That book is a striking proof of the justice of Pope's remark: Each might his several province well command, Would all but stoop to what they understand.
Page 424 - Yes, sir: there was another fine passage too which he struck out : ' When I was a young man, being anxious to distinguish myself, I was perpetually starting new propositions. But I soon gave this over ; for I found that generally what was new was false '.' " I said, I did not like to sit with people of whom I had not a good opinion.
Page 66 - My worthy booksellers and friends, Messieurs Dilly in the Poultry, at whose hospitable and well-covered table I have seen a greater number of literary men, than at any other, except that of Sir Joshua Reynolds, had invited me to meet Mr. Wilkes and some more gentlemen on Wednesday, May 15. 'Pray (said I,) let us have Dr. Johnson.' — 'What with Mr. Wilkes? not for the world, (said Mr. Edward Dilly:) Dr. Johnson would never forgive me.' — 'Come, (said I,) if you'll let me negotiate for you, I will...
Page 230 - He had always been very zealous against slavery in every form, in which I with all deference thought that he discovered "a zeal without knowledge". Upon one occasion, when in company with some very grave men at Oxford, his toast was, "Here's to the next insurrection of the negroes in the West Indies".
Page 190 - Depend upon it, Sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.