Dr. Johnson's table-talk: aphorisms [&c.] selected and arranged from mr. Boswell's life of Johnson, Volume 21807 |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 22
Page 23
... known of a person who had endeavoured to retain grief . — He told Dr. Tay- lor , that after his Lady's death , which affected him deeply , he resolved that the grief , which he cherished with a kind of sacred fondness , should be ...
... known of a person who had endeavoured to retain grief . — He told Dr. Tay- lor , that after his Lady's death , which affected him deeply , he resolved that the grief , which he cherished with a kind of sacred fondness , should be ...
Page 29
... known but by supernatural means . ” Johnson mentioned a thing as not unfrequent , namely , the being called , that is , hearing one's name pronounced by the voice of a known per- son at a great distance , far beyond the possibility of ...
... known but by supernatural means . ” Johnson mentioned a thing as not unfrequent , namely , the being called , that is , hearing one's name pronounced by the voice of a known per- son at a great distance , far beyond the possibility of ...
Page 39
... known to Dr. Johnson , for whom he had shewn much affection ; while she ever had , and still re- tained , a great respect for him . Mrs. Knowles at the same time took an opportunity of letting him know , " that the amiable young ...
... known to Dr. Johnson , for whom he had shewn much affection ; while she ever had , and still re- tained , a great respect for him . Mrs. Knowles at the same time took an opportunity of letting him know , " that the amiable young ...
Page 43
... known , and be satisfied what pure nature can do for man . - JOHNSON . " What could you learn , Sir ? What can savages tell , but what they themselves have seen ? Of the past , or the invi- sible , they can tell nothing . The ...
... known , and be satisfied what pure nature can do for man . - JOHNSON . " What could you learn , Sir ? What can savages tell , but what they themselves have seen ? Of the past , or the invi- sible , they can tell nothing . The ...
Page 46
... his communion , but made a particular study of the Scriptures , and even wrote a commentary on some parts of them , yet was known to be very licentious in in- dulging himself with women ; maintaining that men are to 46 TABLE TALK :
... his communion , but made a particular study of the Scriptures , and even wrote a commentary on some parts of them , yet was known to be very licentious in in- dulging himself with women ; maintaining that men are to 46 TABLE TALK :
Common terms and phrases
admiration afraid allow ancient appeared asked Beauclerk Beggar's Opera believe better Bishop blank verse Burke Cawston character Christian Church Church of England Church of Scotland Cibber clergyman consider conversation death Divinity eminent English expressed fear Garrick gentleman give Goldsmith happiness History of China hope human Hume humour imagination infidel John Johnson observed language learning literary lived Lord Lord Bathurst Lord Camden Madam maintained mankind manner ment merit mind miracles nature neral never objections occasion once opinion passion philosophers pleased poem poet poetical poetry Pope praise punishment racter religion Scotland Scripture seems sermons Shakspeare shew Shiels Sir Joshua Reynolds Sir said Johnson style suppose sure talked tell Theocritus thing Thirty-nine Articles thought tion told translation true truth uneasy verse Virgil wish wonder write written wrote
Popular passages
Page 50 - Sir, the life of a parson, of a conscientious clergyman, is not easy. I have always considered a clergyman as the father of a larger family than he is able to maintain. I would rather have Chancery suits upon my hands than the cure of souls. No, Sir, I do not envy a clergyman's life as an easy life, nor do I envy the clergyman who makes it an easy life.
Page 59 - Sir, it is owing to their expressing themselves in a plain and familiar manner, which is the only way to do good to the common people, and which clergymen of genius and learning ought to do from a principle of duty, when it is suited to their congregations ; a practice for which they will be praised by men of sense.
Page 143 - The subject having been introduced by Dr Fordyce, Dr Blair, relying on the internal evidence of their antiquity, asked Dr Johnson whether he thought any man of a modern age could have written such poems ? Johnson replied, "Yes, Sir, many men, many women, and many children.
Page 216 - I have not read Hume; but, doubtless, Goldsmith's History is better than the verbiage of Robertson, or the foppery of Dalrymple." BOSWELL. " Will you not admit the superiority of Robertson, in whose History we find such penetration — such painting? " JOHNSON. " Sir, you must consider how that penetration and that painting are employed. It is not history, it is imagination. He who describes what he never saw, draws from fancy. Robertson paints minds as Sir Joshua paints faces in a history-piece:...
Page 194 - JOHNSON, (with a disdainful look,) ' Why, on dunces. It was worth while being a dunce then. Ah, Sir, hadst thou lived in those days ! It is not worth while being a dunce now, when there are no wits.
Page 216 - ... be buried under his own ornaments. Goldsmith tells you shortly all you want to know ; Robertson detains you a great deal too long. No man will read Robertson's cumbrous detail a second time ; but Goldsmith's plain narrative will please again and again. I would say to Robertson what an old tutor of a college said to one of his pupils, "Read over your compositions, and wherever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.
Page 202 - The first time I was in company with Foote was at Fitzherbert's. Having no good opinion of the fellow, I was resolved not to be pleased; and it is very difficult to please a man against his will. I went on eating my dinner pretty sullenly, affecting not to mind him ; but the dog was so very comical, that I was obliged to lay down my knife and fork, 'throw myself back upon my chair, and fairly laugh it out. No, Sir, he was irresistible.
Page 180 - He used frequently to observe that men might be very eminent in a profession, without our perceiving any particular power of mind in them in conversation. ' It seems strange,' said he, ' that a man should see so far to the right, who sees so short a way to the left. Burke is the only man whose common conversation corresponds with the general fame which he has in the world. Take up whatever topic you please, he is ready to meet you.
Page 11 - A physician, who has practised long in a great city, may be excused if he retires to a small town, and takes less practice. Now, Sir, the good I can do by my conversation bears the same proportion to the good I can do by my writings, that the practice of a physician, retired to a small town, does to his practice in a great city.
Page 200 - He has a singular talent of exhibiting character." JOHNSON. " Sir, it is not a talent ; it is a vice ; it is what others abstain from. It is not comedy, which exhibits the character of a species, as that of a miser gathered from many misers ; it is farce which exhibits individuals.