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Samuel Johnson's Essays

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Samuel Johnson's Essays

Category Archives: The Rambler

No. 65. Obidah and the hermit; an eastern story.

October 30, 1750

Obidah, the son of Abensina, left the caravansera early in the morning, and pursued his journey through the plains of Indostan.

No. 64. The requisites to true friendship.

October 27, 1750

That friendship may be at once fond and lasting, there must not only be equal virtue on each part, but virtue of the same kind.

No. 63. Inconstancy not always a weakness.

October 23, 1750

The traveller that resolutely follows a rough and winding path, will sooner reach the end of his journey, than he that is always changing his direction.

No. 62. A young lady’s impatience to see London.

October 20, 1750

But this tedious interval how shall I endure? Cannot you alleviate the misery of delay by some pleasing description of the entertainments of the town?

No. 61. A Londoner’s visit to the country.

October 16, 1750

It is extremely vexatious to a man of eager and thirsty curiosity to be placed at a great distance from the fountain of intelligence.

No. 60. The dignity and usefulness of biography.

October 13, 1750

I have often thought that there has rarely passed a life of which a judicious and faithful narrative would not be useful.

No. 59. An account of Suspirius, the human screech-owl.

October 9, 1750

Their great business of life is to complain, and that they were born for no other purpose than to disturb the happiness of others.

No. 58. The desire of wealth moderated by philosophy.

October 6, 1750

When therefore the desire of wealth is taking hold of the heart, let us look round and see how it operates upon those who obtained it.

No. 57. Sententious rules of frugality.

October 2, 1750

Common readers require a few plain and cogent instructions, which may sink into the mind by their own weight.

No. 56. The necessity of complaisance. The Rambler’s grief for offending his correspondents.

September 29, 1750

Nothing is more unpleasing than to find that offence has been received when none was intended

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