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
laughter love wear worth
There is nothing worth the wear of winning, but laughter and the love of friends.
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.
friendship men people
When a man is familiar with many people he must expect many disagreeable familiarizations.
sarcastic dog done
A woman's preaching is like a dog's walking on his hinter legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to see it done at all.
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.
strong thinking wife
My wife, who does not like journalizing, said it was leaving myself embowelled to posterity--a good strong figure. But I think itis rather leaving myself embalmed. It is certainly preserving myself.
wise teacher strong
Addison writes with the ease of a gentleman. His readers fancy that a wise and accomplished companion is talking to them; so thathe insinuates his sentiments and taste into their minds by an imperceptible influence. Johnson writes like a teacher. He dictates to his readers as if from an academical chair. They attend with awe and admiration; and his precepts are impressed upon them by his commanding eloquence. Addison's style, like a light wine, pleases everybody from the first. Johnson's, like a liquor of more body, seems too strong at first, but, by degrees, is highly relished.
father hands female
My father had declared a predilection for heirs general, that is, males and females indiscriminately.... I, on the other hand, had a zealous partiality for heirs male, however remote.
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.
stranger should worthy
In every place, where there is any thing worthy of observation, there should be a short printed directory for strangers.
trying journalism let-me
I find I journalize too tediously. Let me try to abbreviate.
mind
My mind was, as it were, strongly impregnated with the Johnsonian ether.