Will Johnson
Will Johnson
cutting rocks poetry
Milton, Madam, was a genius that could cut a Colossus from a rock; but could not carve heads upon cherry-stones.
essence poetry delight
The essence of poetry is invention; such invention as, by producing something unexpected, surprises and delights.
passion evil imagination
Fear is implanted in us as a preservative from evil but its duty, like that of other passions, is not to overbear reason, but to assist it. It should not be suffered to tyrannize in the imagination, to raise phantoms of horror, or to beset life with supernumerary distresses.
evil degrees reason
Evil is uncertain in the same degree as good, and for the reason that we ought not to hope too securely, we ought not to fear with to much dejection.
evil moral left
Almost all the moral good which is left among us is the apparent effect of physical evil.
rome culture elegance
Greece appears to be the fountain of knowledge; Rome of elegance
laughter men understanding
The size of a man's understanding can be justly measured by his mirth.
pride men enemy
When once a man has made celebrity necessary to his happiness, he has put it in the power of the weakest and most timorous malignity, if not to take away his satisfaction, at least to withhold it. His enemies may indulge their pride by airy negligence and gratify their malice by quiet neutrality.
wisdom freedom free-will
All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.
pain stupid taken
Why, sir, Sherry is dull, naturally dull; but it must have taken him a great deal of pains to become what we now see him. Such an excess of stupidity, Sir, is not in Nature.
inspirational humility two
When speculation has done its worst, two and two still make four.
home men honor
It is, indeed, at home that every man must be known by those who would make a just estimate either of his virtue or felicity; for smiles and embroidery are alike occasional, and the mind is often dressed for show in painted honor, and fictitious benevolence.
disappointment expectations moral
He who expects much will be often disappointed; yet disappointment seldom cures us of expectation, or has any other effect than that of producing a moral sentence or peevish exclamation.
disappointment wish pleasure
The pleasure of expecting enjoyment is often greater than that of obtaining it, and the completion of almost every wish is found a disappointment.