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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

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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
Lays
Fruit
Ground
Tree
Enough
Orchard
Stolen

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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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After I went to bed I had a curious fancy as to dreams. In sleep the doors of the mind are shut, and thoughts come jumping in at the windows. They tumble headlong, and therefore are so disorderly and strange. Sometimes they are stout and light on their feet, and then they are rational dreams.
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I have seen many a bear led by a man: but I never before saw a man led by a bear.
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[A]s a lady adjusts her dress before a mirror, a man adjusts his character by looking at his journal.
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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.
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When a man is familiar with many people he must expect many disagreeable familiarizations.
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Many infidels have maintained that Ignorance is the mother of Devotion.
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My mind was, as it were, strongly impregnated with the Johnsonian ether.
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Those who would extirpate evil from the world know little of human nature. As well might punch be palatable without souring as existence agreeable without care.
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I went to my father's at night. He spoke of poor John [Boswell's brother] with disgust. I was shocked and said, He's your son, and God made him. He answered very harshly, If my sons are idiots, can I help it?
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But what can a man see of a library being one day in it?
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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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I am sensible that my keenness of temper, and a vanity to be distinguished for the day, make me too often splash in life.... I amresolved to restrain myself and attend more to decorum.
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My father had declared a predilection for heirs general, that is, males and females indiscriminately.... I, on the other hand, had a zealous partiality for heirs male, however remote.
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We must take our friends as they are.
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What an insignificant life is this which I am now leading!
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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.
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As all who come into the country must obey the King, so all who come into an university must be of the Church.
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If a man is prodigal, he cannot be truly generous.
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I am so fond of tea that I could write a whole dissertation on its virtues. It comforts and enlivens without the risks attendant on spirituous liquors. Gentle herb! Let the florid grape yield to thee. Thy soft influence is a more safe inspirer of social joy.
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