Quotes from Samuel Johnson

ACTUOSE  (ACTUO'SE)   adj.[from act.]That which hath strong powers of action; a word little used.

ABNODATION  (ABNODA'TION)   n.s.[abnodatio, Lat.] The act of cutting away knots from trees;a term of gardening.Dict.

AFFIDATION  (AFFIDA'TION)  AFFIDATURE  (AFFIDA'TURE)  n.s.[from  affido, Lat.See AFFIED.] Mutual contract; mutual oath of fidelity. Dict.

ADULTERATION  (ADULTERA'TION)   n.s.[from adulterate.]1. The act of adulterating or corrupting by foreign mixture; contamination. To make the compound pass for the rich metal simple, is an adulteration, or counterfeiting: but if it be done avowedly, and without disguising, it may be a great saving of the richer metal.Bacon'sNatural History,No 798.2. The state of being adulterated, or contaminated.

AFFUSION  (AFFU'SION)   n.s.[affusio, Lat.]The act of pouring one thing upon another. Upon the affusion of a tincture of galls, it immediately became as black as ink.Grew'sMusæum.

Ignorance, when it is voluntary, is criminal; and he may properly be charged with evil who refused to learn how he might prevent it.

ADULTERINE  (ADU'LTERINE)   n.s.[adulterine, Fr. adulterinus, Lat.]A child born of an adulteress:a term of canon law.

Our senses, our appetites, and our passions, are our lawful and faithful guides, in most things that relate solely to this life; and, therefore, by the hourly necessity of consulting them, we gradually sink into an implicit submission, and habitual confidence. Every act of compliance with their motions facilitates a second compliance, every new step towards depravity is made with less reluctance than the former, and thus the descent to life merely sensual is perpetually accelerated.

ADUNCITY  (ADU'NCITY)   n.s.[aduncitas, Lat.]Crookedness; flexure inwards; hookedness. There can be no question, but the aduncity of the pounces, and beaks of the hawks, is the cause of the great and habitual immorality of those animals.Arbuthnot and Pope'sMart. Scrib.

A man sometimes starts up a patriot, only by disseminating discontent, and propagating reports of secret influence, of dangerous counsels, of violated rights, and encroaching usurpation. This practice is no certain note of patriotism. To instigate the populace with rage beyond the provocation, is to suspend public happiness, if not to destroy it. He is no lover of his country, that unnecessarily disturbs its peace.

AMETHYST  (A'METHYST)   n.s.[al  contrary to wine, or contrary to drunkenness; so called, either because it is not quite of the colour of wine, or because it was imagined to prevent inebriation.] A precious stone of a violet colour, bordering on purple. The

APORIA  (APO'RIA) n.s. [a figure in rhetorick, by which the speaker shews, that he doubts where to begin for the multitude of matter, or what to say in some strange and ambiguous thing; and doth, as it were, argue the case with himself. Thus Cicero says, Whether he took them from his fellows more impudently, gave them to a harlot more lasciviously, removed them from the Roman people more wickedly, or altered them more presumptuously, I cannot well declare. Smith's Rhetorick.

To AFFORD  (AFFO'RD)   v.a.[affourrer, affourrager, Fr.]1. To yield or produce; as, the soil affords grain; the trees afford fruits. This seems to be the primitive signification.2. To

It is observed that "a corrupt society has many laws;" I know not whether it is not equally true, that "an ignorant age has many books." When the treasures of ancient knowledge lie unexamined, and original authors are neglected and forgotten, compilers and plagiaries are encouraged, who give us again what we had before, and grow great by setting before us what our own sloth had hidden from our view.

Admiration begins where acquaintance ceases

I found that the last line in my Concordance and the last line in my six long volumes is Johnson's quotation of Goldsmith's fine saying; 'I do not love a man who is zealous for nothing.

Great works are performed, not by strength, but perseverance: yonder palace was raised by single stones, yet you see its height and spaciousness.

APOTOME  (APO'TOME)   n.s.[from    to cut off.]1.In mathematicks,the remainder or difference of two incommensurable quantities.2.In musick

It has been confidently related, with many embellishments, that Johnson one day knocked Osborne down in his shop, with a folio, and put his foot upon his neck. The simple truth I had from Johnson himself. 'Sir, he was impertinent to me, and I beat him. But it was not in his shop: it was in my own chamber.' A

AFTERBIRTH  (A'FTERBIRTH)   n.s.[from after and birth.]The membrane in which the birth was involved, which is brought away after; the secundine.

Let Art and Genius weep.

But for sorrow there is no remedy provided by nature; it is often occasioned by accidents irreparable, and dwells upon objects that have lost or changed their existence; it requires what it cannot hope, that the laws of the universe should be repealed; that the dead should return or the past should be recalled.

ALL-HEAL  (ALL-HEAL)   n.s. [Panax, Lat.]A species of ironwort; which see.

Where I a pris'ner chain'd, scarce freely drawThe air imprison'd also, close and damp,Unwholsome draught; but here I feel amends,The breath of heav'n fresh blowing, pure and sweet,With day-spring born; here leave me to respire.Milton'sSampson Agonistes.