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James Boswell Quotes

Lawyer

James Boswell, born on October 29, 1740, and died on May 19, 1795, was a Scottish lawyer and writer. He is best known for his biography, 'The Life of Samuel Johnson,' which provides a detailed account of the life and thoughts of the 18th-century British writer Samuel Johnson.

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Famous James Boswell Quotes

“My readers, who may at first be apt to consider Quotation as downright pedantry, will be surprised when I assure them, that next to the simple imitation of sounds and gestures, Quotation is the most natural and most frequent habitude of human nature. For, Quotation must not be confined to passages adduced out of authors. He who cites the opinion, or remark, or saying of another, whether it has been written or spoken, is certainly one who quotes; and this we shall find to be universally practiced.”

Firsts Humans May Has Beens Next Sound Natural Simple Opinion Written Human Nature Reader Passages Gestures Imitation Quotations Remarks Confined Citing Pedantry

Author:James Boswell

“I am now to offer some thoughts upon that sameness or familiarity which we frequently find between passages in different authors without quotation. This may be one of three things either what is called Plagiarism, or Imitation, or Coincidence.”

May Different Three Offers Passages Imitation Quotations Coincidence Three Things Familiarity Plagiarism Sameness

Author:James Boswell

“There is indeed a strange prejudice against Quotation.”

Strange Prejudice Quotations

Author:James Boswell

“Quotation is more universal and more ancient than one would perhaps believe.”

Believe Universal Ancient Quotations

Author:James Boswell