14 Samuel Johnson Quotes on Criticism

Samuel Johnson quotes on criticism

31. Cold approbation gave the ling'ring bays, For those who durst not censure, scarce could praise.

50. There are, in every age, new errors to be rectified, and new prejudices to be opposed.

55. Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those whom we cannot resemble.

91. The greater, far the greater number of those who rave and rail, and inquire and accuse, neither suspect nor fear, nor care for the publick; but hope to force their way to riches, by virulence and invective, and are vehement and clamorous, only that they may be sooner hired to be silent.

113. A fly, Sir, may sting a stately horse and make him wince; but one is but an insect, and the other is a horse still.

127. A woman's preaching is like a dog's walking on his hinder legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all.

132. Shakspeare never has six lines together without a fault. Perhaps you may find seven: but this does not refute my general assertion.

134. That fellow seems to me to possess but one idea, and that is a wrong one.

152. I [Boswell] was somewhat disappointed in finding that the edition of The English Poets, for which he was to write Prefaces and Lives, was not an undertaking directed by him: but that he was to furnish a Preface and Life to any poet the booksellers pleased. I asked him if he would do this to any dunce's works, if they should ask him. JOHNSON: 'Yes, Sir, and say he was a dunce.'

169. All censure of a man's self is oblique praise. It is in order to shew how much he can spare.

172. I would rather be attacked than unnoticed. For the worst thing you can do to an author is to be silent as to his works.

197. It is as bad as bad can be: it is ill-fed, ill-killed, ill-kept, and ill-drest.

206. Mrs. Digby told me that when she lived in London with her sister, Mrs. Brooke, they were every now and then honoured by the visits of Dr. Johnson. He called on them one day soon after the publication of his immortal dictionary. The two ladies paid him due compliments on the occasion. Amongst other topics of praise they very much commended the omission of all naughty words. 'What! my dears! then you have been looking for them?' said the moralist. The ladies, confused at being thus caught, dropped the subject of the dictionary.

207. Dr. Johnson was observed by a musical friend of his to be extremely inattentive at a concert, whilst a celebrated solo player was running up and down the divisions and subdivisions of notes upon his violin. His friend, to induce him to take greater notice of what was going on, told him how extremely difficult it was. 'Difficult, do you call it, Sir?' replied the Doctor; 'I wish it were impossible.'