Men are wise in proportion, not to their experience, but to their capacity for experience. James Boswell More Quotes by James Boswell More Quotes From James Boswell Many infidels have maintained that Ignorance is the mother of Devotion. James Boswell ignoranceworshipmother There is indeed a strange prejudice against Quotation. James Boswell quotationsprejudicestrange What an insignificant life is this which I am now leading! James Boswell insignificantlife-is We often observe in lawyers, who as Quicquid agunt homines is the matter of law suits, are sometimes obliged to pick up a temporary knowledge of an art or science, of which they understood nothing till their brief was delivered, and appear to be much masters of it. James Boswell scienceknowledgeart 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. James Boswell vinesdrsscience In an orchard there should be enough to eat, enough to lay up, enough to be stolen, and enough to rot on the ground. James Boswell fruitenoughtree But the question is, whether the animals who endure such sufferings of various kinds for the service and entertainment of man, would accept existence upon the terms on which they have it. James Boswell sufferinganimalmen I am, I flatter myself, completely a citizen of the world. In my travels through Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Corsica, France, I never felt myself from home. James Boswell switzerlandgermanyhome We must take our friends as they are. James Boswell reality After we came out of the church, we stood talking for some time together of Bishop Berkeley's ingenious sophistry to prove the non-existence of matter, and that every thing in the universe is merely ideal. I observed, that though we are satisfied his doctrine is not true, it is impossible to refute it. I never shall forget the alacrity with which Johnson answered, striking his foot with mighty force against a large stone, till he rebounded from it, "I refute it thus." James Boswell feetphilosophyscience It is wonderful that five thousand years have now elapsed since the creation of the world, and still it is undecided whether or not there has ever been an instance of the spirit of any person appearing after death. All argument is against it; but all belief is for it. James Boswell spiritworldyears Boswell: But, Sir is it not somewhat singular that you should happen to have Cocker's Arithmetic about you on your journey? Dr. Johnson: Why, Sir if you are to have but one book with you upon a journey, let it be a book of science. When you read through a book of entertainment, you know it, and it can do no more for you; but a book of science is inexhaustible. James Boswell journeysciencebook Dr Johnson said, the inscription should have been in Latin, as every thing intended to be universal and permanent, should be. James Boswell drsshould-havelatin Nay, Sir, it was not the WINE that made your head ache, but the SENSE that I put into it' 'What, Sir! will sense make the head ache?' 'Yes, Sir, (with a smile,) when it is not used to it. James Boswell usedwinemade Influence must ever be in proportion to property; and it is right it should. James Boswell proportioninfluenceshould As all who come into the country must obey the King, so all who come into an university must be of the Church. James Boswell churchkingscountry My definition of Man is, a Cooking Animal. The beasts have memory, judgement, and all the faculties and passions of our mind, in a certain degree; but no beast is a cook....Man alone can dress a good dish; and every man whatever is more or less a cook, in seasoning what he himself eats. James Boswell passionanimalmemories The scent of Sloth tempts a smug man. James Boswell scentslothmen What a curious creature is man; with what a variety of powers and faculties is he endued; yet how easily is he disturbed and put out of order. James Boswell psychologicalmenorder Have a sense of piety ever on your mind, and be ever mindful that this is subject to no change, but will last you as long as life and support you in death. Elevate your soul by prayer and by contemplation without mystical enthusiasm. James Boswell support-youprayerlong
