A. Johnson
A. Johnson
past purpose progression
Life, to be worthy of a rational being, must be always in progression; we must always purpose to do more or better than in time past.
exercise understanding religion
The duties of religion, sincerely and regularly performed, will always be sufficient to exalt the meanest and to exercise the highest understanding.
writing men good-man
Of riches it is not necessary to write the praise. Let it, however, be remembered that he who has money to spare has it always in his power to benefit others, and of such power a good man must always be desirous.
riches poverty inconvenience
Riches exclude only one inconvenience,--that is, poverty.
riches crime produce
Riches, perhaps, do not so often produce crimes as incite accusers.
visionaries care purpose
In proportion as our cares are employed upon the future, they are abstracted from the present, from the only time which we can call our own, and of which, if we neglect the apparent duties to make provision against visionary attacks, we shall certainly counteract our own purpose.
miscarriage arrogance despair
Such is the uncertainty of human affairs, that security and despair are equal follies; and as it is presumption and arrogance to anticipate triumphs, it is weakness and cowardice to prog-nosticate miscarriages.
anticipation certain payment
Whatever advantage we snatch beyond a certain portion allotted us by at nature, is like money spent before it is due, which, at the time of regular payment, will be missed and regretted.
christian strong men
As to the Christian religion, besides the strong evidence which we have for it, there is a balance in its favor from the number of great men who have been convinced of its truth after a serious consideration of the question. Grotius was an acute man, a lawyer, a man accustomed to examine evidence, and he was convinced. Grotius was not a recluse, but a man of the world, who certainly had no bias on the side of religion. Sir Isaac Newton set out an infidel, and came to be a very firm believer.
sacrifice peculiar doctrine
The peculiar doctrine of Christianity is that of a universal sacrifice and perpetual propitiation.
errors criticism may
All truth is valuable, and satirical criticism may be considered as useful when it rectifies error and improves judgment; he that refines the public taste is a public benefactor.
criticism negative negative-criticism
Sir, there is no end of negative criticism.
misled mankind critics
Critics, like the rest of mankind, are very frequently misled by interest.
errors inability care
The care of the critic should be to distinguish error from inability, faults of inexperience from defects of nature.