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Quote by Samuel Johnson

“A transition from an author's book to his conversation, is too often like an entrance into a large city.”

Work

The Rambler is a collection of periodical essays written by Samuel Johnson, published twice weekly between 1750 and 1752. The essays cover a wide range of topics, including ethics, philosophy, literary criticism, and observations on daily life, often presented through fictional characters and allegorical narratives. Johnson's prose is characterized by its moral seriousness, rhetorical elegance, and deep psychological insight, aiming to instruct and improve readers while addressing universal human concerns such as ambition, vanity, and the pursuit of happiness. The work is considered a landmark in English essay writing and a key example of 18th-century moral literature. more

Author

Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson was an English writer, poet, and lexicographer, renowned for his comprehensive English dictionary, 'A Dictionary of the English Language', published in 1755. His distinctive writing style and wit have cemented his place as a significant figure in the history of English literature. more

“Among other pleasing errors of young minds is the opinion of their own importance. He that has not yet remarked, how little attention his contemporaries can spare from themselves, conceives all eyes turned upon himself, and imagines everyone that approaches him to be an enemy or a follower, an admirer or a spy.”

Mind Littles Eye Young Attention Opinion Enemy Imagine Approach Importance Errors Followers Spares Spy Admirer Young Minds

Book:Essays from the Rambler, Adventurer, and Idler

Source: Essays from the Rambler, Adventurer, and Idler

“Club: An assembly of good fellows, meeting under certain conditions.”

Certain Conditions Fellows Meetings Clubs Assembly

Book:The life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D., comprehending an account of his studies, and numerous works, in chronological order: a series of his epistolary correspondence and conversations with many eminent persons; and various original pieces of his composition, never before published; the whole exhibiting a view of literature and literary men in Great Britain, for near half a century during which he flourished

Source: The life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D., comprehending an account of his studies, and numerous works, in chronological order: a series of his epistolary correspondence and conversations with many eminent persons; and various original pieces of his composition, never before published; the whole exhibiting a view of literature and literary men in Great Britain, for near half a century during which he flourished

“Discord generally operates in little things; it is inflamed ... by contrariety of taste oftener than principles.”

Littles Principles Taste Little Things Discord

Book:The Rambler: In Four Volumes

Source: The Rambler: In Four Volumes

“Ease, a neutral state between pain and pleasure ... if it is not rising into pleasure will be falling towards pain.”

Ifs States Pain Fall Pleasure Ease Rising Pain And Pleasure

Book:The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D..: The Rambler

Source: The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D..: The Rambler

“Excise: A hateful tax levied upon commodities, and adjudged not by the common judges of property, but wretches hired by those to whom excise is paid.”

Common Judging Taxes Paid Property Commodity Hateful

Author:Samuel Johnson

“Expectation improperly indulged in must end in disappointment.”