“It was the maxim, I think, of Alphonsus of Aragon, that dead counsellors are safest. The grave puts an end to flattery and artifice, and the information we receive from books is pure from interest, fear, and ambition. Dead counsellors are likewise most instructive, because they are heard with patience and with reverence.”
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
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
“Cautious age suspects the flattering form, and only credits what experience tells.”