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Quote by Samuel Johnson

“Among the numerous requisites that must concur to complete an author, few are of more importance than an early entrance into the living world. The seed of knowledge may be planted in solitude, but must be cultivated in public. Argumentation may be taught in colleges, and theories formed in retirement; but the artifice of embellishment and the powers of attraction can be gained only by a general converse.”

Book:Selected poetry and prose

Work

Selected poetry and prose

This book compiles a selection of poetry and prose, offering readers a diverse array of literary expressions and narratives. The collection is intended to provide insight into the author's writing style and the various subjects explored within the works. 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

“The diversion of baiting an author has the sanction of all ages and nations, and is more lawful than the sport of teasing other animals, because, for the most part, he comes voluntarily to the stake, furnished, as he imagines, by the patron powers of literature, with resistless weapons, and impenetrable armour, with the mail of the boar of Erymanth, and the paws of the lion of Nemea.”

Writing Age Literature Nations Sports Animal Imagine Weapons Lions Stakes Mail Sanctions Tease Patron Diversion Paws Armour Boars

Book:The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: With an Essay on His Life and Genius /c by Arthur Murphy, Esq

Source: The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: With an Essay on His Life and Genius /c by Arthur Murphy, Esq

“Critics ought never to be consulted, but while errors may yet be rectified or insipidity suppressed. But when the book has once been dismissed into the world, and can be no more retouched, I know not whether a very different conduct should not be prescribed, and whether firmness and spirit may not sometimes be of use to overpower arrogance and repel brutality.”

Knows World Should Writing May Book Different Sometimes Use Spirit Ought Errors Critics Arrogance Brutality Firmness

Book:Selected essays

Source: Selected essays

“The animadversions of critics are commonly such as may easily provoke the sedatest writer to some quickness of resentment and asperity of reply.”

Writing May Critics Resentment Provoking Quickness

Book:The Rambler

Source: The Rambler

“He that condemns himself to compose on a stated day will often bring to his task attention dissipated, a memory embarrassed, an imagination overwhelmed, a mind distracted with anxieties, a body languishing with disease: he will labour on a barren topic till it is too late to change it; or, in the ardour of invention, diffuse his thoughts into wild exuberance, which the pressing hour of publication cannot suffer judgment to examine or reduce.”

Source: The Works of Samuel Johnson: An essay on the life and genius of Dr. Johnson [by A. Murphy] Poems.- v. 2-4. The rambler.- v. 5. The idler. History of Rasselas, prince of Abissinia.- v. 6-8. The lives of the English poets.- v. 9. Lives of eminent persons. Letters, selected from the collection of Mrs. Piozzi and others. Prayers and meditations.- v. 10. Philological tracts, &c.- v. 11. Miscellaneous tracts, &c. Dedications. Reviews and criticisms. Tales of imagination. The adventurers.-

“To read, write, and converse in due proportions, is, therefore, the business of a man of letters.”

Men Writing Letters Dues Proportion Converses Letter Writing

Book:The Wisdom of the Rambler, Adventurer, and Idler

Source: The Wisdom of the Rambler, Adventurer, and Idler

“There are certain topicks which are never exhausted. Of some images and sentiments the mind of man may be said to be enamoured; it meets them, however often they occur, with the same ardour which a lover feels at the sight of his mistress, and parts from them with the same regret when they can no longer be enjoyed.”

Men Feels Writing Mind May Said Certain Regret Lovers Sight Enjoyed Sentiments Exhausted Mistress

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

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

“Western business people often don't get the importance of establishing human relationships.”

People Humans Importance Western Human Relationships

Author:Daniel Goleman

“When a poet mentions the spring, we know that the zephyrs are about to whisper, that the groves are to recover their verdure, the linnets to warble forth their notes of love, and the flocks and herds to frisk over vales painted with flowers: yet, who is there so insensible of the beauties of nature, so little delighted with the renovation of the world, as not to feel his heart bound at the mention of the spring?”