The Works of Samuel Johnson, Volume 7

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Nichols, 1816
 

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Page 310 - Why shrinks the soul Back on herself, and startles at destruction ? 'Tis the Divinity that stirs within us, 'Tis Heaven itself, that points out an hereafter, And intimates eternity to man.
Page 315 - DOUBTLESS the pleasure is as great Of being cheated, as to cheat ; As lookers-on feel most delight That least perceive a juggler's sleight, And still, the less they understand, The more...
Page 310 - Here will I hold. If there's a power above us — And that there is, all nature cries aloud Through all her works — He must delight in virtue; And that which He delights in must be happy.
Page 331 - I have no doubt but that, if we were more used to deformity than beauty, deformity would then lose the idea now annexed to it, and take that of beauty; as, if the whole world should agree that yes and no should change their meanings, yes would then deny, and no would affirm...
Page 261 - there is the following very extraordinary paragraph: " The authenticity of Clarendon's history, though printed with the sanction of one of the first Universities of the world, had not an unexpected manuscript been happily discovered, would, with the help of factious credulity, have been brought into question, by the two lowest of all human beings, a Scribbler for a party, and a Commissioner of Excise.
Page 173 - If the parts of time were not variously coloured, we should never discern their departure or succession, but should live thoughtless of the past, and careless of the future...
Page 166 - These are the great occasions which force the mind to take refuge in religion: when we have no help in ourselves, what can remain but that we look up to a higher and a greater power; and to what hope may we not raise our eyes and hearts, when we consider that the greatest power is the best. Surely there is no man who, thus afflicted, does not seek succour in the Gospel, which has brought “life and immortality to light.
Page 252 - I^HE natural progress of the works of men is from rudeness to convenience, from convenience to elegance, and from elegance to nicety, The first labour is enforced by necessity.
Page 159 - Promise, large promise, is the soul of an advertisement. I remember a wash-ball that had a quality truly wonderful — it gave an exquisite edge to the razor.
Page 319 - ... ridiculous. Such faults may be said to be the ebullitions of genius; but at least he had this merit, that he never was insipid, and whatever passion his works may excite, they will always escape contempt. What I have had under consideration is the sublimest style, particularly that of Michael Angela, the Homer of painting.

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