Quote #14

Then, all censure of a man's self is oblique praise.

More from James Boswell

  1. You are a philosopher, Dr. Johnson. I have tried too in my time to be a philosopher; but, I don't know how, cheerfulness was always breakin…
  2. What can he mean by coming among us? He is not only dull himself, but the cause of dullness in others.
  3. We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it ru…
  4. [...] for the Doctor observed, that no man takes upon himself small blemishes without supposing that great abilities are attributed to him;…
  5. He who has provoked the lash of wit, cannot complain that he smarts from it.
  6. Johnson is dead. Let us go to the next best:-there is nobody; no man can be said to put you in mind of Johnson.
  7. When I called upon Dr. Johnson next morning, I found him highly satisfied with his colloquial prowess the preceding evening. 'Well, (said h…
  8. Such groundless fears will arise in the mind, before it has resumed its vigour after sleep!

All James Boswell quotes