No. 32. The vanity of stoicism. The necessity of patience.
In calamities which operate chiefly on our passions, such as diminution of fortune, loss of friends, or declension of character, the chief danger of impatience is upon the first attack.
Author Archives: Samuel Johnson
No. 31. The defence of a known mistake highly culpable.
As all errour is meanness, it is incumbent on every man who consults his own dignity, to retract it as soon as he discovers it.
No. 30. The observance of Sunday recommended; an allegory.
You must know I equally hate lazy idleness and hurry.
No. 29. The folly of anticipating misfortunes.
The ancient poets are, indeed, by no means unexceptionable teachers of morality.
No. 28. The various arts of self-delusion.
If it be reasonable to estimate the difficulty of any enterprise by frequent miscarriages, it may justly be concluded that it is not easy for a man to know himself.
No. 27. An author’s treatment from six patrons.
At last I thought my solicitude at an end…
No. 26. The mischief of extravagance, and misery of dependence.
It is usual for men, engaged in the same pursuits, to be inquisitive after the conduct and fortune of each other.
No. 25. Rashness preferable to cowardice. Enterprize not to be repressed.
For they can conquer who believe they can.
No. 24. The necessity of attending to the duties of common life. The natural character not to be forsaken.
This is, indeed, a dictate, which, in the whole extent of its meaning, may be said to comprise all the speculation requisite to a moral agent
No. 23. The contrariety of criticism. The vanity of objection. An author obliged to depend upon his own judgment.
Of all authors, those who retail their labours in periodical sheets would be most unhappy.