The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D., Volume 1Talboys & Wheeler, 1826 |
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Page vii
... manner , which opinion the publick has confirmed , was the best encouragement for me to per- severe in my purpose of producing the whole of my stores . In one respect this work will , in some passages , be different from the former . In ...
... manner , which opinion the publick has confirmed , was the best encouragement for me to per- severe in my purpose of producing the whole of my stores . In one respect this work will , in some passages , be different from the former . In ...
Page xxiii
... manners , the chief charm of Boswell's work would have been de- stroyed by a more artificial structure . And it is in this that the merit of the book before us mainly consists ; for in its miscellaneous pages there is ever - and - again ...
... manners , the chief charm of Boswell's work would have been de- stroyed by a more artificial structure . And it is in this that the merit of the book before us mainly consists ; for in its miscellaneous pages there is ever - and - again ...
Page 1
... manner , committed to writing many particulars of the progress of his mind and fortunes , he never had per- severing diligence enough to form them into a regular composition . Of these memorials a few have been pre- served ; but the ...
... manner , committed to writing many particulars of the progress of his mind and fortunes , he never had per- severing diligence enough to form them into a regular composition . Of these memorials a few have been pre- served ; but the ...
Page 7
... manners or behaviour of their heroes , that more knowledge may be gained of a man's real character by a short conversation with one of his servants , than from a formal and studied narrative , begun with his pedigree , and ended with ...
... manners or behaviour of their heroes , that more knowledge may be gained of a man's real character by a short conversation with one of his servants , than from a formal and studied narrative , begun with his pedigree , and ended with ...
Page 15
... manner of objects , whe- ther of nature or of art , with a nicety that is rarely to be found . When he and I were travelling in the High- lands of Scotland , and I pointed out to him a mountain which I observed resembled a cone , he ...
... manner of objects , whe- ther of nature or of art , with a nicety that is rarely to be found . When he and I were travelling in the High- lands of Scotland , and I pointed out to him a mountain which I observed resembled a cone , he ...
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acknowl acquainted admiration afterwards Anecdotes appears believe bishop bishop of Salisbury bookseller Boswell Burney Cave character conversation dear sir death Dictionary Dodsley edition eminent endeavour English Essay evid excellent father favour Garrick gave Gentleman's Magazine give Goldsmith happy heard Hector honour hope house of Stuart humble servant Johnson Joseph Warton kind king labour lady Langton language Latin learned letter Lichfield literary lived London lord Chesterfield Lucy Porter Malone manner master mentioned merit mind mother never obliged observed occasion opinion Oxford paper Pembroke college person pleased pleasure poem poet Preface publick published Rambler remarkable reverend Richard Savage Robert Dodsley Samuel Johnson Savage Shakspeare sir John Hawkins sir Joshua Reynolds spirit supposed talk thing THOMAS WARTON thought tion told translation truth verses Warton William wish write written wrote
Popular passages
Page 173 - 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; 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 172 - ... 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 native...
Page 172 - I had done all that I could; and no man is well pleased to have his all neglected, be it ever so little. Seven years, my Lord, have now passed since I waited in your outward rooms or was repulsed from your door...
Page 202 - Excise. A hateful tax levied upon commodities, and adjudged not by the common judges of property, but wretches hired by those to whom excise is paid.
Page 173 - 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 281 - Scotland," which I used in the sense of being of that country ; and, as if I had said that I had come away from it, or left it, retorted, "That, sir, I find, is what a very great many of your countrymen cannot help.
Page 121 - 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 332 - 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 241 - ... to maintain, against the concurrent and unvaried testimony of all ages, and of all nations. There is no people, rude or learned, among whom apparitions of the dead are not related and believed. This opinion, which perhaps prevails as far as human nature is diffused, could become universal only by its truth : those, that never heard of one another, would not have agreed in a tale which nothing but experience can make credible. That it is doubted by single cavillers, can very little weaken the...
Page 205 - If a man does not make new acquaintance as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man, sir, should keep his friendship in constant repair.