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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.

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
Father
Declared
Hands
Remote
Male
Predilection
Males
Indiscriminately
Female
Partiality
However
Zealous
General
Females
Hand
Heirs

More quotes by James Boswell

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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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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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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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In an orchard there should be enough to eat, enough to lay up, enough to be stolen, and enough to rot on the ground.
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I fancy mankind may come, in time, to write all aphoristically.
James Boswell
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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.
James Boswell
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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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Many infidels have maintained that Ignorance is the mother of Devotion.
James Boswell
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When a man is familiar with many people he must expect many disagreeable familiarizations.
James Boswell
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If a man is prodigal, he cannot be truly generous.
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That favorite subject, Myself.
James Boswell
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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?
James Boswell
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Quotation is more universal and more ancient than one would perhaps believe.
James Boswell
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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.
James Boswell
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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.
James Boswell
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In every picture there should be shade as well as light.
James Boswell
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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.
James Boswell
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The man who stops making new friends eventually will have none.
James Boswell
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The scent of Sloth tempts a smug man.
James Boswell
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Melancholy cannot be clearly proved to others, so it is better to be silent about it.
James Boswell