Quotessence
Home / Books / The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752

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

Book by Samuel Johnson · 10 quotes · Men, May, Writing

Filter quotes by topic

AllMenMayWritingMindIfsLittlesPraiseAttentionCertainDesireFaultsMankindReasonAgeFirstsHumansImaginationMeritOpinionPlease

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

“If an author be supposed to involve his thoughts in voluntary obscurity, and to obstruct, by unnecessary difficulties, a mind eager in the pursuit of truth; if he writes not to make others learned, but to boast the learning which he possesses himself, and wishes to be admired rather than understood, he counteracts the first end of writing, and justly suffers the utmost severity of censure, or the more afflicting severity of neglect.”

IfsWritingMindFirstsEndsSufferingWishUnderstoodDifficultyPursuitNeglectUnnecessaryBoastObscurityCensureSeverity
Book:The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752
Create image

“Truth, like beauty, varies its fashions, and is best recommended by different dresses to different minds; and he that recalls the attention of mankind to any part of learning which time has left behind it, may be truly said to advance the literatures of his own age. As the manners of nations vary, new topicks of persuasion become necessary, and new combinations of imagery are produced; and he that can accommodate himself to the reigning taste, may always have readers who perhaps would not have looked upon better performances.”

WritingMindMaySaidDifferentAgeLiteratureLeftNationsBehindsAttentionMankindFashionReaderTastePerformancesDressesMannersCombinationRecallsPersuasionLeft BehindImageryVaryAccommodateDifferent Minds
Book:The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752
Create image

“Forgetfulness is necessary to remembrance. Ideas are retained by renovation of that impression which time is always wearing away,and which new images are striving to obliterate. If useless thoughts could be expelled from the mind, all the valuable parts of our knowledge would more frequently recur, and every recurrence would reinstate them in their former place.”

IfsMindIdeasStriveValuableImpressionFormerUselessRemembranceForgetfulnessRenovationRecurrence
Book:The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752
Create image

“The mind is never satisfied with the objects immediately before it, but is always breaking away from the present moment, and losing itself in schemes of future felicity... The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope.”

MindHumansMomentsNaturalPleasureObjectsLosingSatisfiedFlightPresent MomentHuman MindAnticipationSchemesFelicityBreaking Away
Book:The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752
Create image

“Idleness is often covered by turbulence and hurry. He that neglects his known duty and real employment naturally endeavours to crowd his mind with something that may bar out the remembrance of his own folly, and does any thing but what he ought to do with eager diligence, that he may keep himself in his own favour.”

MindMayDoeRealHappinessKnownDutyOughtCrowdsBarsEmploymentFollyNeglectCoveredRemembranceFavourIdlenessDiligenceEndeavourTurbulence
Book:The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752
Create image

“The chief art of learning, as Locke has observed, is to attempt but little at a time. The widest excursions of the mind are made by short flights frequently repeated; the most lofty fabrics of science are formed by the continued accumulation of single propositions.”

MindLittlesArtMadeScienceLearningFlightChiefsFabricPropositionsAccumulationLoftyExcursions
Book:The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752
Create image