James Boswell

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James Boswell (29 October 1740 - 19 May 1795) was a lawyer, diarist, and author born in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Contents

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[edit] The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson, LL.D. (1785)

  • 'Sir,' said Mr Johnson, 'a lawyer has no business with the justice or injustice of the cause which he undertakes, unless his client asks his opinion, and then he is bound to give it honestly. The justice or injustice of the cause is to be decided by the judge.'
    • 15th August 1773
  • I fancy mankind may come, in time, to write all aphoristically.
    • 16th August 1773
    • Spoken by Samuel Johnson
  • Influence must ever be in proportion to property; and it is right it should.
    • 18th August 1773
    • Spoken by Samuel Johnson
  • In every place, where there is any thing worthy of observation, there should be a short printed directory for strangers.
    • 19th August 1773
  • As all who come into the country must obey the King, so all who come into an university must be of the Church.
    • 19th August 1773
    • Spoken by Samuel Johnson
  • I regretted I was not the head of a clan; however, though not possessed of such an hereditary advantage, I would always endeavour to make my tenants follow me.
    • 31st August 1773
  • Such groundless fears will arise in the mind, before it has resumed its vigour after sleep!
    • 1st September 1773

[edit] The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. (1791)

  • When I called upon Dr. Johnson next morning, I found him highly satisfied with his colloquial prowess the preceding evening. "Well, (said he,) we had good talk." BOSWELL: "Yes, Sir, you tossed and gored several persons."
    • 1768
  • He who has provoked the lash of wit, cannot complain that he smarts from it.
    • October 16, 1769
    • Note: Boswell's comment on Johnson's treatment of Thomas Sheridan
  • His mind resembled the vast ampitheatre, the Colisæum at Rome. In the centre stood his judgement, which like a mighty gladiator, combated those apprehensions that, like the wild beasts of the Arena, were all around in cells, ready to be let out upon him. After a conflict, he drives them back into their dens; but not killing them, they were still assailing him.
    • October 26, 1769
    • Referring to Johnson
  • We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over.
    • September 19, 1777
  • You are a philosopher, Dr. Johnson. I have tried too in my time to be a philosopher; but, I don't know how, cheerfulness was always breaking in.
    • April 17, 1778
    • Spoken by Edwards, an old schoolmate of Johnson's
  • Then, all censure of a man's self is oblique praise.
    • April 25, 1778
  • What can he mean by coming among us? He is not only dull himself, but the cause of dullness in others.
    • 1783
    • Spoken by Samuel Foote about a "law-Lord"
  • [...] for the Doctor observed, that no man takes upon himself small blemishes without supposing that great abilities are attributed to him; and that, in short, this affectation of candour or modesty was but another kind of indirect self-praise, and had its foundation in vanity.
    • November 30, 1784
  • Johnson is dead. Let us go to the next best:—there is nobody; no man can be said to put you in mind of Johnson.
    • 1784
    • Spoken by William Gerard Hamilton

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