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The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752

Book by Samuel Johnson · 19 quotes · Men, May, Writing

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The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752 Quotes

“It is not difficult to conceive, however, that for many reasons a man writes much better than he lives. For without entering into refined speculations, it may be shown much easier to design than to perform. A man proposes his schemes of life in a state of abstraction and disengagement, exempt from the enticements of hope, the solicitations of affection, the importunities of appetite, or the depressions of fear.”

MenWritingMayStatesReasonDifficultDesignEasierAffectionAppetiteSchemesEnteringAbstractionSpeculationProposeRefinedEnticementDisengagementSolicitation
Book:The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752
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“The whole power of cunning is privative; to say nothing, and to do nothing , is the utmost of its reach. Yet men, thus narrow by nature and mean by art, are sometimes able to rise by the miscarriages of bravery and the openness of integrity, and, watching failures and snatching opportunities, obtain advantages which belong to higher characters.”

MenMeanArtSometimesWholeCharacterAbleOpportunityHigherIntegrityAdvantageBraveryOpennessCunningMiscarriage
Book:The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752
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“As he that lives longest lives but a little while, every man may be certain that he has no time to waste. The duties of life are commensurate to its duration; and every day brings its task, which, if neglected, is doubled on the morrow.”

IfsMenMayLittlesCertainDutyWasteTasksEvery ManLong LifeNeglectedDiligenceDurationMorrowNo Time To Waste
Book:The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752
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“A man finds in the productions of nature an inexhaustible stock of material on which he can employ himself, without any temptations to envy or malevolence, and has always a certain prospect of discovering new reasons for adoring the sovereign author of the universe.”

MenReasonCertainUniverseNatureMaterialsProductionsEnvyTemptationDiscoveringSovereignMalevolence
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“Man is a transitory being, and his designs must partake of the imperfections of their author. To confer duration is not always in our power. We must snatch the present moment, and employ it well, without too much solicitude for the future, and content ourselves with reflecting that our part is performed. He that waits for an opportunity to do much at once, may breathe out his life in idle wishes, and regret, in the last hour, his useless intentions and barren zeal.”

MenWellsMayMomentsLastsHumanityOpportunityWishWaitingHoursToo MuchDesignRegretIntentionBreatheUselessPresent MomentImperfectionIdleReflectingZealBarrenDurationTransitorySolicitude
Book:The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752
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“There prevails among men of letters, an opinion, that all appearance of science is particularly hateful to Women; and that therefore whoever desires to be well received in female assemblies, must qualify himself by a total rejection of all that is serious, rational, or important; must consider argument or criticism as perpetually interdicted; and devote all his attention to trifles, and all his eloquence to compliment.”

MenWellsImportantScienceDesireAttentionOpinionSeriousFemaleArgumentCriticismLettersAccountsAppearanceRationalRejectionComplimentHatefulAssemblyEloquenceTrifles
Book:The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752
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“Censure is willingly indulged, because it always implies some superiority: men please themselves with imagining that they have made a deeper search, or wider survey than others, and detected faults and follies which escape vulgar observation.”

MenMadeAdvicePleaseFaultsDeeperObservationFollySuperiorityVulgarSurveysCensure
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“To exact of every man who writes that he should say something new, would be to reduce authors to a small number; to oblige the most fertile genius to say only what is new, would be to contract his volumes to a few pages. Yet, surely, there ought to be some bounds to repetition; libraries ought no more to be heaped for ever with the same thoughts differently expressed, than with the same books differently decorated.”

MenShouldWritingBookWould BeNumbersOughtGeniusPagesBoundsLibraryEvery ManSomething NewContractsOriginalityVolumeRepetitionFertileSmall Numbers
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“Few men survey themselves with so much severity as not to admit prejudices in their own favour, which an artful flatterer may gradually strengthen, till wishes for a particular qualification are improved to hopes of attainment, and hopes of attainment to belief of possession.”

MenMayBeliefWishParticularPrejudicePossessionFavourFlatteryAttainmentSurveysQualificationsSeverityFlatterer
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“No man, however enslaved to his appetites, or hurried by his passions, can, while he preserves his intellects unimpaired, please himself with promoting the corruption of others. He whose merit has enlarged his influence would surely wish to exert it for the benefit of mankind. Yet such will be the effect of his reputation, while he suffers himself to indulge in any favourite fault, that they who have no hope to reach his excellence will catch at his failings, and his virtues will be cited to justify the copiers of his vices.”

MenSufferingPassionWishVirtueFailingInfluenceMankindEffectsPleaseBenefitsFaultsExcellenceVicesCorruptionIntellectReputationPreservesMeritJustifyAppetiteFavouritePromotingIndulgeNo HopeIndulge InCopiers
Book:The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752
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