The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: Including a Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, Volume 4

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Page 465 - ... an affected simplicity, sometimes a presumptuous bluntness giveth it being: sometimes it riseth only from a lucky hitting upon what is strange ; sometimes from a crafty wresting obvious matter to the purpose. Often it consisteth in one knows not what, and springeth up one can hardly tell how. Its ways are unaccountable, and inexplicable ; being answerable to the numberless rovings of fancy, and windings of language.
Page 15 - No, sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life ; for there is in London all that life can afford." To obviate his apprehension, that by settling in London I might desert the seat of my ancestors, I assured him that I had old feudal principles to a degree of enthusiasm ; and that I felt all the dulcedo of the natale solum.
Page 398 - My manhood, long misled by wandering fires, Follow'd false lights; and when their glimpse was gone, My pride struck out new sparkles of her own. Such was I, such by nature still I am; Be thine the glory, and be mine the shame. Good life be now my task; my doubts are done: What more could fright my faith, than Three in One?
Page 464 - It is, indeed, a thing so versatile and multiform, appearing in so many shapes, so many postures, so many garbs, so variously apprehended by several eyes and judgments, that it seemeth no less hard to settle a clear...
Page 110 - I will not be put to the question. Don't you consider, Sir, that these are not the manners of a gentleman ? I will not be baited with what and why; what is this? what is that? why is a cow's tail long? why is a fox's tail bushy ?" The gentleman, who was a good deal out of countenance, said, " Why, Sir, you are so good, that I venture to trouble you.
Page 238 - I reminded him how heartily he and I used to drink wine together, when we were first acquainted ; and how I used to have a headache after sitting up with him. He did not like to have this recalled, or, perhaps, thinking that I boasted improperly, resolved to have a witty stroke at ine ; " Nay, sir, it was not the wine that made your head ache, but the sense that I put into it.
Page 180 - We talked of antiquarian researches. JOHNSON. " All that is really known of the ancient state of Britain is contained in a few pages. We can know no more than what the old writers have told us...
Page 1 - Depend upon it, Sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight it concentrates his mind wonderfully.
Page 426 - I hoped you had got rid of all this hypocrisy of misery. What have you to do with Liberty and Necessity ? Or what more than to hold your tongue about it?
Page 465 - It is, in short, a manner of speaking out of the simple and plain way — such as reason teacheth and proveth things by — which by a pretty surprising uncouthness in conceit or expression doth affect and amuse the fancy, stirring in it some wonder, and breeding some delight thereto.

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