The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D: Comprehending an Account of His Studies and Numerous Works, ... By James Boswell, EsqH. Baldwin and Son, 1799 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acknowl acquaintance admiration ÆTAT afterwards appears authour believe BENNET LANGTON Bishop bookseller Burney Cave character College compliment conversation David Garrick DEAR SIR death Dictionary Dodsley doubt edition Edward Cave elegant eminent endeavour English Essay evid excellent father favour Garrick gave genius Gentleman's Magazine give happy heard Hector honour hope house of Stuart humble servant imagination Johnson kind King labour lady Langton language Latin learning letter Lichfield literary lived London Lord Chesterfield Lucy Porter mankind manner master mentioned merit mind never obliged observed occasion opinion Oxford paper Pembroke College person pleased pleasure poem poet praise Preface publick published Rambler received remarkable Robert Dodsley SAMUEL JOHNSON Savage Shakspeare shew Sir John Hawkins Sir Joshua Reynolds spirit suppose talk thing THOMAS WARTON thought tion told translation truth verses Warton wish write written wrote
Popular passages
Page 227 - 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 226 - 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 226 - 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 194 - Whoever wishes to attain an English style, familiar but not coarse, and elegant but not ostentatious, must give his days and nights to the volumes of...
Page 372 - ... which he might be extricated. He then told me that he had a novel ready for the press, which he produced to me.
Page 225 - 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. To be so distinguished, is an honour, which, being very little accustomed to favours from the great, I know not well how to receive, or in what terms to acknowledge. " When, upon some slight encouragement, I first visited your lordship, I was overpowered, like...
Page 54 - His acquaintance with books was great ; and what he did not immediately know he could at least tell where to find. Such was his amplitude of learning, and such his copiousness of communication, that it may be doubted whether a day now passes in which I have not some advantage from his friendship.
Page 164 - Where then shall Hope and Fear their objects find? Must dull suspense corrupt the stagnant mind? Must helpless man, in ignorance sedate, Roll darkling down the torrent of his fate?
Page 171 - 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 xxxii - After my death I wish no other herald, No other speaker of my living actions, To keep mine honour from corruption, But such an honest chronicler as Griffith.