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.

There is indeed a strange prejudice against Quotation.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

The scent of Sloth tempts a smug man.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We must take our friends as they are.

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

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

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

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

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

One must be strict even in little things.

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

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

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

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

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

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