A Critical Enquiry Into the Moral Writings of Dr. Samuel Johnson: In which the Tendency of Certain Passages in the Rambler, and Other Publications of that Celebrated Writer, is Impartially Considered : to which is Added an Appendix, Containing a Dialogue Between Boswell and Johnson in the ShadesC. Corrall, 1802 - 144 pages |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 23
Page x
... produced the subsequent critique . They will , I trust , be sufficient to exonerate me from all aspersions of malevolence to the character , or injury to the fame , of the deservedly admired author here con- troverted . Those who are ...
... produced the subsequent critique . They will , I trust , be sufficient to exonerate me from all aspersions of malevolence to the character , or injury to the fame , of the deservedly admired author here con- troverted . Those who are ...
Page 5
... produce the proposed effect , much was required , and much , which Johnson never could attain he taught the happiness of virtue , and displayed the miseries of vice with pecu- liar energy ; here his whole soul was employed , and he felt ...
... produce the proposed effect , much was required , and much , which Johnson never could attain he taught the happiness of virtue , and displayed the miseries of vice with pecu- liar energy ; here his whole soul was employed , and he felt ...
Page 15
... produce only satiety and listlessness , and disgust : If they at- tract friends , or are dispensed so as to command gratitude , they find only fraud and deceit . In short , if they are applied to any other purpose than that of solely ...
... produce only satiety and listlessness , and disgust : If they at- tract friends , or are dispensed so as to command gratitude , they find only fraud and deceit . In short , if they are applied to any other purpose than that of solely ...
Page 20
... produced them . Nor are they cogent , if considered distinctly . - Riches are certainly a means of happiness ; and the mind may receive a gratification equally solid , though not so lasting , in erecting edifices , and form- ing gardens ...
... produced them . Nor are they cogent , if considered distinctly . - Riches are certainly a means of happiness ; and the mind may receive a gratification equally solid , though not so lasting , in erecting edifices , and form- ing gardens ...
Page 26
... produce infinite evil in society , and plunge the youthful mind in a state of the most hateful suspicion with regard to his fellow creatures . The invariable gloominess of this au- thor , and his perverse descriptions of human nature ...
... produce infinite evil in society , and plunge the youthful mind in a state of the most hateful suspicion with regard to his fellow creatures . The invariable gloominess of this au- thor , and his perverse descriptions of human nature ...
Other editions - View all
A Critical Enquiry Into the Moral Writings of Dr. Samuel Johnson: In Which ... William Mudford No preview available - 2019 |
A Critical Enquiry Into the Moral Writings of Dr. Samuel Johnson: In Which ... William Mudford No preview available - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
Abouzaid Abyssinia Addison admiration affected allegories Almamoulin amusement argument ATTALUS beauties believe cause celibacy censure choly confess consequences considered conviction declamation delight dignity disgust displays dities dreadful elegance employed endeavours English language enquiry envy error Essays evil exist false fame fluence frequently friends genius gloomy happiness happy valley heart honour hope human nature Human Wishes idle Idler indulge infelicity intellect Johnson Johnson's mind Jupiter labour language Learning lence less ligion literary mahogany mankind manner marriage melan melancholy ments merit misanthropy miseries Morad moral moralist ness never novelty observations opinion papers passage passions perhaps perspicuity perusal pleasure poet poetry possess praise precepts prejudice produced pursue Rambler Rasselas reader reason regard remarks retirement SAMUEL JOHNSON shew spect sublime suppose Tatler thee thing thor thou thought tion truth Vanity of Human vice vigour virtue virtuous wretched writings youth
Popular passages
Page 87 - He must divest himself of the prejudices of his age or country ; he must consider right and wrong in their abstracted and invariable state ; he must disregard present laws and opinions, and rise to general and transcendental truths, which will always be the same...
Page 76 - Resistless burns the fever of renown, Caught from the strong contagion of the gown: O'er Bodley's dome his future labours spread. And Bacon's mansion trembles o'er his head.
Page 87 - But the knowledge of nature is only half the task of a poet; he must be acquainted likewise with all the modes of life. His character requires that he estimate the happiness and misery of every condition, observe the power of all the passions in all their combinations and trace the changes of the human mind as they are modified by various institutions and accidental influences of climate or custom from the sprightliness of infancy to the despondence of decrepitude.
Page 79 - To press the weary minutes' flagging wings; New sorrow rises as the day returns, A sister sickens, or a daughter mourns; Now kindred Merit fills the sable bier, Now lacerated Friendship claims a tear; Year chases year, decay pursues decay, Still drops some joy from...
Page 73 - Has Heaven reserv'd in pity to the poor, No pathless waste or undiscovered shore ? No secret island in the boundless main ? No peaceful desert yet unclaimed by Spain ? Quick let us rise, the happy seats explore And bear oppression's insolence no more.
Page 74 - On ev'ry stage the foes of peace attend, Hate dogs their flight, and insult mocks their end. Love ends with hope, the sinking statesman's door Pours in the morning...
Page 78 - New sorrow rises as the day returns, A sister sickens, or a daughter mourns. Now kindred Merit fills the sable bier, Now lacerated Friendship claims a tear; Year chases year, decay pursues decay, Still drops some joy from with'ring life away ; New forms arise, and...
Page 77 - Nor think the doom of man revers'd for thee: Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, And pause awhile from Letters, to be wise; There mark what ills the scholar's life assail, Toil, envy, want, the patron, and the jail. See nations, slowly wise, and meanly just, To buried merit raise the tardy bust.
Page 94 - I could be content that we might procreate like trees without conjunction, or that there were any way to perpetuate the world without this trivial and vulgar way of coition : it is the foolishest act a wise man commits in all his life ; nor is there any thing that will more deject his cooled imagination, when he shall consider what an odd and unworthy piece of folly he hath committed.
Page 96 - Such is the common process of marriage. A youth and maiden meeting by chance, or brought together by artifice, exchange glances, reciprocate civilities, go home and dream of one another. Having little to divert attention, or diversify thought, they find themselves uneasy when they are apart, and therefore conclude that they shall be happy together. They marry, and discover what nothing but voluntary blindness before had concealed : they wear out life in altercations, and charge nature with cruelty.