James Boswell quotes: wise famous quotes, sayings and quotations by James Boswell

James Boswell Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from James Boswell on Wise Famous Quotes.

James Boswell quotes: There is indeed a strange prejudice against Quotation.

There is indeed a strange prejudice against Quotation.

James Boswell quotes: But what can a man see of a library being one day in it?

But what can a man see of a library being one day in it?

James Boswell quotes: When we know exactly all a man's views and how he comes to speak and act so and so, we lose any respect for him, though we may love and

When we know exactly all a man's views and how he comes to speak and act so and so, we lose any respect for him, though we may love and admire him.

James Boswell quotes: I have found you an argument; I am not obliged to find you an understanding.

I have found you an argument; I am not obliged to find you an understanding.

James Boswell quotes: My mind was, as it were, strongly impregnated with the Johnsonian ether.

My mind was, as it were, strongly impregnated with the Johnsonian ether.

James Boswell quotes: [A]s a lady adjusts her dress before a mirror, a man adjusts his character by looking at his journal.

[A]s a lady adjusts her dress before a mirror, a man adjusts his character by looking at his journal.

James Boswell quotes: What an insignificant life is this which I am now leading!

What an insignificant life is this which I am now leading!

James Boswell quotes: If venereal delight and the power of propagating the species were permitted only to the virtuous, it would make the world very good.

If venereal delight and the power of propagating the species were permitted only to the virtuous, it would make the world very good.

James Boswell quotes: 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.

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 quotes: I have discovered that we may be in some degree whatever character we choose. Besides, practice forms a man to anything.

I have discovered that we may be in some degree whatever character we choose. Besides, practice forms a man to anything.

James Boswell quotes: In every picture there should be shade as well as light.

In every picture there should be shade as well as light.

James Boswell quotes: The scent of Sloth tempts a smug man.

The scent of Sloth tempts a smug man.

James Boswell quotes: 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.

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.

James Boswell quotes: A companion loves some agreeable qualities which a man may possess, but a friend loves the man himself.

A companion loves some agreeable qualities which a man may possess, but a friend loves the man himself.

James Boswell quotes: It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives. The act of dying is not of importance, it lasts so short a time.

It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives. The act of dying is not of importance, it lasts so short a time.

James Boswell quotes: I, who have no sisters or brothers, look with some degree of innocent envy on those who may be said to be born to friends.

I, who have no sisters or brothers, look with some degree of innocent envy on those who may be said to be born to friends.

James Boswell quotes: Influence must ever be in proportion to property; and it is right it should.

Influence must ever be in proportion to property; and it is right it should.

James Boswell quotes: When a man is familiar with many people he must expect many disagreeable familiarizations.

When a man is familiar with many people he must expect many disagreeable familiarizations.

James Boswell quotes: Dr Johnson said, the inscription should have been in Latin, as every thing intended to be universal and permanent, should be.

Dr Johnson said, the inscription should have been in Latin, as every thing intended to be universal and permanent, should be.

James Boswell quotes: I argued that the chastity of women was of much more consequence than that of men, as the property and rights of families depend upon it.

I argued that the chastity of women was of much more consequence than that of men, as the property and rights of families depend upon it.

James Boswell quotes: A good pun may be admitted among the smaller excellencies of lively conversation.

A good pun may be admitted among the smaller excellencies of lively conversation.

James Boswell quotes: He made two or three peculiar observations; as when shewn the botanical garden, 'Is not EVERY garden a botanical garden?

He made two or three peculiar observations; as when shewn the botanical garden, 'Is not EVERY garden a botanical garden?

James Boswell quotes: He who has provoked the lash of wit cannot complain that he smarts from it.

He who has provoked the lash of wit cannot complain that he smarts from it.

James Boswell quotes: The connection between authors, printers, and booksellers must be kept up.

The connection between authors, printers, and booksellers must be kept up.

James Boswell quotes: I fancy mankind may come, in time, to write all aphoristically.

I fancy mankind may come, in time, to write all aphoristically.

James Boswell quotes: A page of my journal is like a cake of portable soup. A little may be diffused into a considerable portion.

A page of my journal is like a cake of portable soup. A little may be diffused into a considerable portion.

James Boswell quotes: If a man is prodigal, he cannot be truly generous.

If a man is prodigal, he cannot be truly generous.

James Boswell quotes: The pleasure of gratifying whim is very great. It is known only by those who are whimsical.

The pleasure of gratifying whim is very great. It is known only by those who are whimsical.

James Boswell quotes: It is not every man who can be exquisitely miserable, any more than exquisitely happy.

It is not every man who can be exquisitely miserable, any more than exquisitely happy.

James Boswell quotes: I find I journalize too tediously. Let me try to abbreviate.

I find I journalize too tediously. Let me try to abbreviate.

James Boswell quotes: We must take our friends as they are.

We must take our friends as they are.

James Boswell quotes: In every place, where there is any thing worthy of observation, there should be a short printed directory for strangers.

In every place, where there is any thing worthy of observation, there should be a short printed directory for strangers.

James Boswell quotes: As all who come into the country must obey the King, so all who come into an university must be of the Church.

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 quotes: I suppose no person ever enjoyed with more relish the infusion of this fragrant leaf than did Johnson.

I suppose no person ever enjoyed with more relish the infusion of this fragrant leaf than did Johnson.

James Boswell quotes: We had some port, and drank damnation to the play and eternal remorse to the author.

We had some port, and drank damnation to the play and eternal remorse to the author.

James Boswell quotes: Writing a book I have found to be like building a house. A man forms a plan, and collects materials.

Writing a book I have found to be like building a house. A man forms a plan, and collects materials.

James Boswell quotes: One must be strict even in little things.

One must be strict even in little things.

James Boswell quotes: I think there is a blossom about me of something more distinguished than the generality of mankind.

I think there is a blossom about me of something more distinguished than the generality of mankind.

James Boswell quotes: If a man who is born to a fortune cannot make himself easier and freer than those who are not, he gains nothing.

If a man who is born to a fortune cannot make himself easier and freer than those who are not, he gains nothing.

James Boswell quotes: The man who stops making new friends eventually will have none.

The man who stops making new friends eventually will have none.

James Boswell quotes: Melancholy cannot be clearly proved to others, so it is better to be silent about it.

Melancholy cannot be clearly proved to others, so it is better to be silent about it.

James Boswell quotes: I have seen many a bear led by a man: but I never before saw a man led by a bear.

I have seen many a bear led by a man: but I never before saw a man led by a bear.

James Boswell quotes: Quotation is more universal and more ancient than one would perhaps believe.

Quotation is more universal and more ancient than one would perhaps believe.