Quotes from Samuel Johnson

Affection is the lively representment of any passion whatsoever, as if the figures stood not upon a cloth or board, but as if they were acting upon a stage.Wotton'sArchitecture.

ALTARAGE  (A'LTARAGE)   n.s.[altaragium, Lat.] An emolument arising to the priest from oblations, through the means of the altar.Ayliffe'sParergon.

The love of life is necessary to the vigorous prosecution of any undertaking.

The black dog I hope always to resist, and in time to drive, though I am deprived of almost all those that used to help me… When I rise my breakfast is solitary, the black dog waits to share it, from breakfast to dinner he continues barking...

In Ireland they put their children to fosterers: the rich sell, the meaner sort buying the alterage of their children; and the reason is, because in the opinion of the people, fostering has always been a stronger alliance than blood.Sir John Davieson Ireland.   

It is too well known, that the second George never was an Augustus to learning or genius.

He, who writes an Encomium Neronis, if he does it heartily, is himself but a transcript of Nero in his mind, and would, no doubt, gladly enough see such pranks, as he was famous for, acted again, though he dares not be the actor of them himself.South'sSermons.2. He

And the faces of them, which have used abstinence, shall shine above the stars; whereas our faces shall be blacker than darkness.Bible2 Esdras,vii. 55.

AGMINAL  (A'GMINAL)   adj.[from agmen, Lat.] Belonging to a troop.Dict.

ALIQUANT  (A'LIQUANT)   adj.[aliquantus, Lat.]Parts of a number, which, however repeated, will never make up the number exactly; as, 3 is an aliquant of 10, thrice 3 being 9, four times 3 making 12.

AMPLITUDE  (A'MPLITUDE)   n.s.[amplitude, Fr. amplitudo, Lat.]1. Extent. Whatever I look upon, within the amplitude of heaven and earth, is evidence of human ignorance.Glanville'sScepsis.2. Largeness;

ADESPOTICK  (ADESPO'TICK)   adj. Not absolute; not despotick.Dict.

AGNUS CASTUS  (AGNUS CASTUS)   n.s.[Lat.]The name of the tree commonly called the Chaste Tree, from an imaginary virtue of preserving chastity. Of laurel some, of woodbine many more,And wreathes of agnus castus others bore.Dryden.

ALDERLIEVEST  (ALDERLI'EVEST)   adj. superl.[from ald, alder, old, elder, and lieve, dear, beloved.]Most beloved; which has held the longest possession of the heart. The mutual conference that my mind hath had,By day, by night, waking, and in my dreams,In courtly company, or at my beads,With you, mine alderlievest sovereign;Makes me the bolder to salute my kingWith ruder terms.Shakesp.Henry VI. p.

To ADDLE  (A'DDLE)   v.a.[from addle, adj.]To make addle; to corrupt; to make barren. This is also evidenced in eggs, whereof the sound ones sink, and such as are addled swim; as do also those that are termed hypenemiæ, or wind-eggs.Brown'sVulgar Errours,b. iv.   To ADDLE  (To A'DDLE)   v.n.To grow; to encrease. Obsolete. Where ivy embraceth the tree very sore,Kill ivy, else tree will addle no more.Tusser'sHusbandry.   

ABACTOR  (ABA'CTOR)   n.s.[Lat. abactor, a driver away.] Those who drive away or steal cattle in herds, or great numbers at once, in distinction from those that steal only a sheep or two.Blount.

Give with thy trumpet a loud note to Troy,Thou dreadful Ajax; that th' appalled airMay pierce the head of thy great combatant.Shakesp. The house of peers was somewhat appalled at this alarum; but took time to consider of it till next day.Clarendon. Does neither rage inflame, nor fear appal,Nor the black fear of death that saddens all.Pope.

ABANNITION  (ABANNI'TION)   n.s.[Lat. abannitio.] A banishment for one or two years, among the ancients, for manslaughter.Dict.

Largeness; greatness. Men should learn how severe a thing the true inquisition of nature is, and accustom themselves, by the light of particulars, to enlarge their minds to the amplitude of the world, and not reduce the world to the narrowness of their minds.Bacon.3. Capacity.

ABHORRING  (ABHO'RRING)   The object of abhorrence. This seems not to be the proper use of the participial noun. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched, and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.BibleIsaiah,lxvi. 44.

He ended, and his words impression leftOf much amazement to th' infernal crew,Distracted and surpris'd with deep dismayAt these sad tidings.Milton'sParadise Regained,b. i.3.

ALGOR  (A'LGOR)   n.s.[Lat.] Extreme cold; chilness.Dict.

He that lives today as he lived yesterday, and expects that, as the present day is, such will be the morrow, easily conceives time as running in a circle and returning to itself. The uncertainty of our duration is impressed commonly by dissimilitude of condition; it is only by finding life changeable that we are reminded of its shortness.

So much are the modes of excellence settled by time and place, that men may be heard boasting in one street of that which they would anxiously conceal in another.