Johnson: His Characteristics and AphorismsA. Gardner, 1884 - 173 pages |
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Page vii
... literature has lived more independently than I have done . ” These words are true . Regarding the disorder of his father's affairs at this time , a deeply affecting story was told by himself when on a visit to his birthplace , after he ...
... literature has lived more independently than I have done . ” These words are true . Regarding the disorder of his father's affairs at this time , a deeply affecting story was told by himself when on a visit to his birthplace , after he ...
Page xv
... literature . It had the good fortune to attract the notice of Pope , then the great literary magnate . After reading the anonymous poem he said , " This man will soon be déterré . It also attracted the notice of General Oglethorpe , who ...
... literature . It had the good fortune to attract the notice of Pope , then the great literary magnate . After reading the anonymous poem he said , " This man will soon be déterré . It also attracted the notice of General Oglethorpe , who ...
Page xviii
... literature . In the preface , JOHNSON makes a touching and memorable allusion to the difficulties with which he had to contend . " Though no book , " he says , 66 was ever spared out of tenderness to the author , and the world is little ...
... literature . In the preface , JOHNSON makes a touching and memorable allusion to the difficulties with which he had to contend . " Though no book , " he says , 66 was ever spared out of tenderness to the author , and the world is little ...
Page xxxi
... literature but in his personality ; yet it is rather significant , that the literary form of that sentence is borrowed almost bodily , from JOHNSON himself . Says Macaulay , " The memory of other authors is kept alive by their works ...
... literature but in his personality ; yet it is rather significant , that the literary form of that sentence is borrowed almost bodily , from JOHNSON himself . Says Macaulay , " The memory of other authors is kept alive by their works ...
Page xxxii
... literature : " The publication of the ' Rambler , " " he says , " produced a very rapid revo- lution in the tone of English composition , —an ele- vation and dignity , a harmony and energy , a pre- cision and force of style , previously ...
... literature : " The publication of the ' Rambler , " " he says , " produced a very rapid revo- lution in the tone of English composition , —an ele- vation and dignity , a harmony and energy , a pre- cision and force of style , previously ...
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Common terms and phrases
Aphorisms April April 14 April 29 believe better Boswell's Carlyle character conversation danger death Dictionary dinner Doctor drinking evil fame flattery friendship Garrick gentleman give Goldsmith happiness Hawkins hear Hebrides Highland hope human humour idle Idler ignorance intellectual it.-Life JOHN Journey knowledge labour lady learning literary literature live London Lord Lord Macaulay Macaulay Madam man's mankind March March 21 Marriage Maxwell's Collectanea mind nation nature never occasion October October 19 October 26 Piozzi's Anecdotes pleased pleasure Poets politeness poverty praise pretty woman Rambler Rasselas reason replied Reynolds rich SAMUEL JOHNSON Savage Says Boswell Scotch Scotchmen Scotland seldom September September 19 September 20 Sir Joshua solitude speak Streatham talk things thought Thrale tion Tory travelling truth virtue Wealth Western Islands Whig Whiggism wine wise wish woman write
Popular passages
Page x - When upon some slight encouragement I first visited your Lordship, I was overpowered like the rest of mankind by the enchantment of your address, and could not forbear to wish that I might boast myself le vainqueur du vainqueur de la terre...
Page clviii - 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.
Page xi - 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 of the rocks.
Page x - My Lord, I have been lately informed, by the proprietor of The World, that two papers, in which my Dictionary is recommended to the public, were written by your Lordship.
Page 54 - No, sir, there is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced, as by a good tavern or inn.
Page viii - I have protracted my work till most of those whom I wished to please have sunk into the grave, and success and miscarriage are empty sounds. I therefore dismiss it with frigid tranquillity, having little to fear or hope from censure or from praise.
Page xi - The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a native of the rocks. Is not a patron, my Lord...
Page 21 - Johnson, upon all occasions, expressed his approbation of enforcing instruction by means of the rod.* " I would rather (said he) have the rod to be the general terror to all, to make them learn, than tell a child, if you do thus, or thus, you will be more esteemed than your brothers or sisters. The rod produces an effect which terminates in itself. A child is afraid of being whipped, and gets his task, and there's an end on't ; whereas, by exciting emulation and comparisons of superioritv, you lay...
Page clviii - 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 ruins of lona.
Page xi - 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, SAM. JOHNSON.