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

James Boswell

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James Boswell
Age: 54 †
Born: 1740
Born: October 18
Died: 1795
Died: May 19
Biographer
Diarist
Lawyer
Writer
Edinburgh
Scotland
James Boswell I
James
I Boswell
Library
Men

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My mind was, as it were, strongly impregnated with the Johnsonian ether.
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We must take our friends as they are.
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He had no settled plan of life, nor looked forward at all, but merely lived from day to day. Yet he read a great deal in a desultory manner, without any scheme of study, as chance threw books in his way, and inclination directed him through them.
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I fancy mankind may come, in time, to write all aphoristically.
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If a man is prodigal, he cannot be truly generous.
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My wife, who does not like journalizing, said it was leaving myself embowelled to posterity--a good strong figure. But I think itis rather leaving myself embalmed. It is certainly preserving myself.
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That favorite subject, Myself.
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When a man is familiar with many people he must expect many disagreeable familiarizations.
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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.
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I find I journalize too tediously. Let me try to abbreviate.
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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.
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My curiosity to see the melancholy spectacle of the executions was so strong that I could not resist it, although I was sensible that I would suffer much from it.... I got upon a scaffold near the fatal tree so that I could clearly see all the dismal scene.... I was most terribly shocked, and thrown into a very deep melancholy.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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If a man who is born to a fortune cannot make himself easier and freer than those who are not, he gains nothing.
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What an insignificant life is this which I am now leading!
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For my own part I think no innocent species of wit or pleasantry should be suppressed: and that a good pun may be admitted among the smaller excellencies of lively conversation.
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In every picture there should be shade as well as light.
James Boswell
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Quotation is more universal and more ancient than one would perhaps believe.
James Boswell