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Samuel Johnson's Essays

~ republished 260 years later

Samuel Johnson's Essays

Category Archives: The Rambler

No. 188. Favour often gained with little assistance from understanding.

January 4, 1752

None of the desires dictated by vanity is more general, or less blamable, than that of being distinguished for the arts of conversation.

No. 187. The history of Anningait and Ajut concluded

December 31, 1751

Non illum nostri possunt mutare labores; Non si frigoribus mediis Hebrunique bibamus, Sithoniasque nives hyemis subeamus aquosae:— Ominia vincit amor. …

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No. 186. Anningait and Ajut; a Greenland history.

December 28, 1751

 Pone me, pigris ubi nulla campis Arbor æstica recreatur aurâ— Dulce ridentem Lalagen amabo, Dulce loquentem. HOR. Lib. i. Ode …

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No. 185. The prohibition of revenge justifiable by reason. The meanness of regulating our conduct by the opinions of men .

December 24, 1751

At vindicta bonum vita jucundius ipsa, Nempe hoc indocti.— Chrysippus non dicet idem, nec mite Thaletis Ingenium, dulcique senex vicinus …

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No. 184. The subject of essays often suggested by chance. Chance equally prevalent in other affairs

December 21, 1751

 Permittes ipsis expendere numinibus, quid Conveniat nobis, rebusque sit utile nostris. JUV. Sat. x. 347.   Intrust thy fortune to the …

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No. 183. The influence of envy and interest compared.

December 17, 1751

Nidla fides regni sociis, omnisque potestas Impatiens consortis erit. LUCAN. Lib. i. 92.   No faith of partnership dominion owns; Still …

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No. 182. The history of Leviculus, the fortune-hunter.

December 14, 1751

—Dives qui fieri vult, Et cilo vult fieri.— JUV. Sat. xiv. 176 The lust of wealth can never bear delay. It …

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No. 181. The history of an adventurer in lotteries.

December 10, 1751

—Neu fluitem dubue spe pendulus horae. HOR. Lib. i. Ep. xviii. 110.   Nor let me float in fortune’s pow’r, Dependent …

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No. 180. The study of life not to be neglected for the sake of books.

December 7, 1751

 [Greek: Taut eidos sophos isthi, mataen d’ Epikouron eason Poy to kenon zaetein, kai tines ai monades.] AUTOMEDON.   On life, …

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No. 179. The awkward merriment of a student.

December 3, 1751

Perpetuo risu pulmonem agitare solebat. JUV. Sat. x. 33.   Democritus would feed his spleen, and shake His sides and shoulders …

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