The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.Macmillan, 1922 |
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Page x
... particular attention by a person of the first eminence in the age in which he lived , whose company has been universally courted , I am justified in availing myself of the usual privilege of a Dedication , when I DEDICATION xi mention ...
... particular attention by a person of the first eminence in the age in which he lived , whose company has been universally courted , I am justified in availing myself of the usual privilege of a Dedication , when I DEDICATION xi mention ...
Page xii
... particular on which it has become necessary to speak very plainly . I have , therefore , in this Work been more reserved ; and though I tell nothing but the truth , I have still kept in my mind that the whole truth is not always to be ...
... particular on which it has become necessary to speak very plainly . I have , therefore , in this Work been more reserved ; and though I tell nothing but the truth , I have still kept in my mind that the whole truth is not always to be ...
Page 7
... particular persons are barren and useless . If a life be delayed till interest and envy are at an end , we may hope for impartiality , but must expect little intelligence ; for the incidents which give excellence to biography are of a ...
... particular persons are barren and useless . If a life be delayed till interest and envy are at an end , we may hope for impartiality , but must expect little intelligence ; for the incidents which give excellence to biography are of a ...
Page 12
... particular , which can throw light on the progress of his mind , is interesting . That he was remarkable , even in his earliest years , may easily be sup- posed ; for to use his own words in his Life of Sydenham , " That the strength of ...
... particular , which can throw light on the progress of his mind , is interesting . That he was remarkable , even in his earliest years , may easily be sup- posed ; for to use his own words in his Life of Sydenham , " That the strength of ...
Page 28
... particular . The flesh of animals who feed excursively , is allowed to have a higher flavour than that of those who are cooped up . May there not be the same differ- ence between men who read as their taste prompts and GOES TO OXFORD 29 ...
... particular . The flesh of animals who feed excursively , is allowed to have a higher flavour than that of those who are cooped up . May there not be the same differ- ence between men who read as their taste prompts and GOES TO OXFORD 29 ...
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acquaintance admiration afterwards appeared asked Baretti believe BENNET LANGTON Bishop bookseller BOSWELL character Colley Cibber consider conversation Croker DEAR SIR death Dictionary Dodsley edition eminent endeavour English Essay favour Francis Barber Garrick genius gentleman Gentleman's Magazine give Goldsmith happy Hebrides honour hope House of Stuart human humble servant JAMES BOSWELL Johnson kind King labour lady Langton language Latin learning letter Lichfield literary lived London Lord Chesterfield Lucy Porter mankind manner mentioned merit mind never obliged observed occasion opinion Oxford Pembroke College pleased pleasure poem poet praise published Rambler received recollect remarkable Reverend Samuel Johnson Savage Scotland Shakespeare shew Sir John Hawkins Sir Joshua Reynolds spirit suppose talk tell thing THOMAS WARTON thought Thrale tion told translation truth verses Warton wish write written wrote
Popular passages
Page 186 - Is not a Patron, my Lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help? The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary, and cannot impart it,3 till I am known, and do not want it.
Page 187 - 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 186 - When, upon some slight encouragement, I first visited your lordship, I was overpowered, like the rest of mankind, by the enchantment...
Page 371 - Where Angels tremble while they gaze, He saw ; but blasted with excess of light. Closed his eyes in endless night. Behold, where Dryden's less presumptuous car, Wide o'er the fields of glory bear Two coursers of ethereal race, With necks in thunder clothed, and long-resounding pace.
Page 142 - Somebody talked of happy moments for composition, and how a man can write at one time and not at another. "Nay," said Dr Johnson, "a man may write at any time if he will set himself doggedly to it.
Page 186 - ... Seven years, my Lord,' have now passed, 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. " The Shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a...
Page 191 - Sir, he was a scoundrel, and a coward : a scoundrel for charging a blunderbuss against religion and morality ; a coward, because he had not resolution to fire it off himself, but left half a crown to a beggarly Scotchman to draw the trigger after his death...
Page 348 - Here lies our good Edmund, whose genius was such, We scarcely can praise it, or blame it too much; Who, born for the universe, narrow'd his mind, And to party gave up what was meant for mankind.
Page 401 - Sir, they may talk of the King as they will; but he is the finest gentleman I have ever seen.
Page 505 - Richardson used to say, that had he not known who Fielding was, he should have believed he was an ostler. Sir, there is more knowledge of the heart in one letter of Richardson's, than in all