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About this quote

What does it mean?
A toast anticipating a slave uprising.
In plain terms
He jokes about enslaved people rebelling.
What can you take from it?
Historical views reflect era.

Where it applies

  • historical reading
  • social history

Putting it to work

  • contextualize historical figures

Questions to consider

  • How do we judge historical figures?
  • What does this reveal about the era?

Another view

The sentiment ignores the humanity of enslaved people.

More from Samuel Johnson

  1. When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.

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  2. It must be agreed that in most ages many countries have had part of their inhabitants in a state of slavery; yet it may be doubted whether slavery can ever be …

    Permalink to quote #156
  3. Depend upon it, Sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.

    Permalink to quote #153

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