A. Johnson
A. Johnson
jealousy husband past
When a man marries a widow his jealousies revert to the past: no man is as good as his wife says her first husband was
names add reputation
Those who have any intention of deviating from the beaten roads of life, and acquiring a reputation superior to names hourly swept away by time among the refuse of fame, should add to their reason and their spirit the power of persisting in their pur
fame ends artificial
Time quickly puts an end to artificial and accidental fame
lasts truth-will-prevail reason
Reason and truth will prevail at last
confidence bottles comfort
In the bottle discontent seeks for comfort, cowardice for courage, and bashfulness for confidence.
confidence growth plant
Confidence is a plant of slow growth; especially in an aged bosom
employment dresses would-be
Language is the dress of thought; and as the noblest mien or most graceful action would be degraded and obscured by a garb appropriated to the gross employments of rusticks or mechanics, so the most heroick sentiments will lose their efficacy
writing practice mind
To fix the thoughts by writing, and subject them to frequent examinations and reviews, is the best method of enabling the mind to detect its own sophisms, and keep it on guard against the fallacies which it practices on others
literature raised
I respect Millar: he has raised the price of literature
wise ignorance flow
From ignorance our comfort flows, the only wretched are the wise
sin vow snares
A vow is a snare for sin
cheating thinking ruffian
I hope I shall never be deterred from detecting what I think a cheat, by the menaces of a ruffian.
determination focus mind
There is no temper more unpropitious to interest than desultory application and unlimited inquiry, by which the desires are held in a perpetual equipoise, and the mind fluctuates between different purposes without determination.
imagination expectations design
They whose activity of imagination is often shifting the scenes of expectation, are frequently subject to such sallies of caprice as make all their actions fortuitous, destroy the value of their friendship, obstruct the efficacy of their virtues, and set them below the meanest of those who persist in their resolutions, execute what they design, and perform what they have promised.