Poems List

A man ought to read just as inclination leads him; for what he reads as a task will do him little good.

James Boswell Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) 14 July 1763

6

No man will be a sailor who has contrivance enough to get himself into a jail; for being in a ship is being in a jail, with the chance of being drowned.

James Boswell Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) 16 March 1759

5

BOSWELL : I do indeed come from Scotland, but I cannot help it …

JOHNSON : That, Sir, I find, is what a very

4

Ignorance, madam, pure ignorance.

on being asked why he had defined pastern as the ’knee’ of a horse

5

If a man does not make new acquaintance as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man, Sir, should keep his friendship in constant repair.

James Boswell Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) 1755

5

Is not a Patron, my Lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help? The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary, and cannot impart it; till I am known, and do not want it.

James Boswell Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) letter to Lord Chesterfield, 7 February 1755

4

They teach the morals of a whore, and the manners of a dancing master.

of the Letters of Lord Chesterfield

4

A man may write at any time, if he will set himself doggedly to it.

James Boswell Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) March 1750

3

This man I thought had been a Lord among wits; but, I find, he is only a wit among Lords.

of Lord Chesterfield

3

Sir, we are a nest of singing birds.

of Pembroke College, Oxford

5

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Samuel Johnson (18 September 1709 – 13 December 1784) was an English writer who became one of the most celebrated intellectuals of his time. Born in Lichfield, Staffordshire, he struggled with ill health and financial difficulties for much of his life. His most influential work, 'A Dictionary of the English Language' (1755), was a landmark in English lexicography, defining the vocabulary and spelling of the language. Johnson also produced insightful essays, sermons, poems, and biographies, including 'Lives of the Poets'. He was a central figure in London's literary circles, known for his sharp wit, brilliant conversation, and strong opinions. His life and work were immortalized in James Boswell's 'Life of Samuel Johnson', one of the most important biographies in English literature.