Johnsoniana: Life, Opinions, and Table-talk of Doctor JohnsonA. Boot, 1884 - 319 pages |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 43
Page vii
... given here . A lady whose accomplish- ments he appreciated came to the Thrale household one day , superb with diamonds and feathers and other adornments . the surprise of Mrs. Thrale , it was noticed that he evinced an indisposition to ...
... given here . A lady whose accomplish- ments he appreciated came to the Thrale household one day , superb with diamonds and feathers and other adornments . the surprise of Mrs. Thrale , it was noticed that he evinced an indisposition to ...
Page xi
... way . It was not until 1755 , however , that the bulky tomes were given to the world . During these years of mental toil the polite Chesterfield , to whom Johnson had paid the high compliment of addressing the LIFE OF JOHNSON . xi.
... way . It was not until 1755 , however , that the bulky tomes were given to the world . During these years of mental toil the polite Chesterfield , to whom Johnson had paid the high compliment of addressing the LIFE OF JOHNSON . xi.
Page xiii
... given to a State hire- ling for treason to his country , " while a pensioner was , by way of driving the definition home , explained to be " a slave of State hired by a stipend to obey his master . " By the irony of Fate he was to be ...
... given to a State hire- ling for treason to his country , " while a pensioner was , by way of driving the definition home , explained to be " a slave of State hired by a stipend to obey his master . " By the irony of Fate he was to be ...
Page 4
... given him by Dr. Adams , he replied : " Ah , sir , I was mad and violent . It was bitterness which they mistook for frolic . I was miserably poor , and I thought to fight my way by my literature and my wit ; so I disregarded all power ...
... given him by Dr. Adams , he replied : " Ah , sir , I was mad and violent . It was bitterness which they mistook for frolic . I was miserably poor , and I thought to fight my way by my literature and my wit ; so I disregarded all power ...
Page 14
... given up , out of a great number of boys , it is made by somebody . " " I hate by - roads in education . Education is as well known , and has long been as well known , as ever it can be . Endeavour- ing to make children prematurely wise ...
... given up , out of a great number of boys , it is made by somebody . " " I hate by - roads in education . Education is as well known , and has long been as well known , as ever it can be . Endeavour- ing to make children prematurely wise ...
Common terms and phrases
advantage allowed answered appeared asked attention believe better Boswell called character church common consider conversation doubt drinking effect England English equally expressed fellow Garrick give given Goldsmith hand happy head hear human instance Italy John JOHNSON judge keep kind king knowledge known lady language laugh learning less literary live London look lord maintained manner master means mentioned merit mind nature never objections observed occasion once opinion particular perhaps person pleased poor present principles produced published reason remarked replied respect Scotland seemed society soon speak suppose sure talk tell thing thought told travels true truth whole wish woman wonder write written wrong young
Popular passages
Page 260 - If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
Page 194 - I believe, Sir, you have a great many. Norway, too, has noble wild prospects; and Lapland is remarkable for prodigious noble wild prospects. But, Sir, let me tell you, the noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees, is the high road that leads him to England!
Page 287 - Of genius, that power which constitutes a poet; that quality without which judgment is cold, and knowledge is inert; that energy which collects, combines, amplifies, and animates; the superiority must, with some hesitation, be allowed to Dryden.
Page 30 - Madness frequently discovers itself merely by unnecessary deviation from the usual modes of the world. My poor friend Smart showed the disturbance of his mind, by falling upon his knees, and saying his prayers in the street, or in any other unusual place. Now although, rationally speaking, it is greater madness not to pray at all than to pray as Smart did, I am afraid there are so many who do not pray that their understanding is not called in question.
Page 83 - Sir, if you wish to have a just notion of the magnitude of this city, you must not be satisfied with seeing its great streets and squares, but must survey the innumerable little lanes and courts. It is not in the showy evolutions of buildings, but in the multiplicity of human habitations which are crowded together, that the wonderful immensity of London consists.
Page 286 - In his Night Thoughts he has exhibited a very wide display of original poetry, variegated with deep reflections and striking allusions, a wilderness of thought, in which the fertility of fancy scatters flowers of every hue and of every odour. This is one of the few poems in which blank verse could not be changed for rhyme but with disadvantage.
Page 287 - If the flights of Dryden therefore, are higher, Pope continues longer on the wing. If of Dryden's fire the blaze is brighter, of Pope's the heat is more regular and constant. Dryden often surpasses expectation, and Pope never falls below it. Dryden is read with frequent astonishment, and Pope with perpetual delight.
Page 84 - They, whose narrow minds are contracted to the consideration of some one particular pursuit, view it only through that medium. A politician thinks of it merely as the seat of government in its different departments ; a grazier, as a vast market for cattle ; a mercantile man, as a place where a prodigious deal of business is done upon 'Change ; a...
Page 16 - All knowledge is of itself of some value. There is nothing so minute or inconsiderable, that I would not rather know it than not. In the same manner, all power, of whatever sort, is of itself desirable. A man would not submit to learn to hem a ruffle...
Page 287 - Pope had, in proportions very nicely adjusted to each other, all the qualities that constitute genius. He had Invention, by which new trains of events are formed, and new scenes of imagery displayed, as in the Rape of the Lock; and by which extrinsick and adventitious embellishments and illustrations are connected with a known subject, as in the Essay on Criticism...