James Boswell
James Boswell
James Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck, was a Scottish biographer and diarist, born in Edinburgh. He is best known for the biography he wrote of one of his contemporaries, the English literary figure Samuel Johnson, which the modern Johnsonian critic Harold Bloom has claimed is the greatest biography written in the English language...
NationalityScottish
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth29 October 1740
quotes understanding
I have found you an argument; I am not obliged to find you an understanding.
admitted among good smaller
A good pun may be admitted among the smaller excellencies of lively conversation.
laughter love wear worth
There is nothing worth the wear of winning, but laughter and the love of friends.
drs vines pruning
Dr. Johnson ... sometimes employed himself in chymistry, sometimes in watering and pruning a vine, and sometimes in small experiments, at which those who may smile, should recollect that there are moments which admit of being soothed only by trifles.
favorite-subject subjects
That favorite subject, Myself.
dream sleep thoughtful
After I went to bed I had a curious fancy as to dreams. In sleep the doors of the mind are shut, and thoughts come jumping in at the windows. They tumble headlong, and therefore are so disorderly and strange. Sometimes they are stout and light on their feet, and then they are rational dreams.
whimsical pleasure whim
The pleasure of gratifying whim is very great. It is known only by those who are whimsical.
melancholy silent unhappiness
Melancholy cannot be clearly proved to others, so it is better to be silent about it.
drinking play criticism
We had some port, and drank damnation to the play and eternal remorse to the author.
leafs infusion johnson
I suppose no person ever enjoyed with more relish the infusion of this fragrant leaf than did Johnson.