116. Admiration; Friendship; Judgement;
Love
I regretted that I had lost much of my
disposition to admire,
which people generally do as they advance in life.
Johnson: "Sir, as a man advances in life, he gets what is
better than admiration, --judgement, to estimate things at their
true value." I still insisted that admiration was more pleasing
than judgement, as love is more pleasing than friendship. The
feeling of friendship is like that of being comfortably filled
with roast beef; love, like being enlivened with champagne.
Johnson: "No, Sir, admiration and love are like being
intoxicated with champagne; judgement and friendship like being
enlivened."
Boswell: Life
Link
644. Admiration; Fame
"Every heart ought to rejoice when true merit is distinguished
with publick notice."
Johnson: Idler #6 (May 20, 1758)
Link
1,152. Admiration; Excellence
"Whatever is done skillfully appears to be done with ease; and
art, when it is once matured to habit, vanishes from observation.
We are therefore more powerfully excited to emulation by those
who have attained the highest degree of excellence, and whom we
can therefore with least reason hope to equal."
Johnson: Rambler #122 (May 18, 1751)
Link
1,276. Admiration; Ambition
"To be admired must be the constant aim of ambition."
Johnson: Rambler #157 (September 17, 1751)
Link
1,327. Admiration; Influence
"The faults of a man loved or honoured sometimes steal secretly
and imperceptibly upon the wise and virtuous, but by injudicious
fondness or thoughtless vanity are adopted with design."
Johnson: Rambler #164 (October 12, 1751)
Link
1,328. Admiration; Influence
"No man, however enslaved to his appetites, or hurried by his
passions, can, while he preserves his intellects unimpaired,
please himself with promoting the corruption of others. He whose
merit has enlarged his influence would surely wish to exert it
for the benefit of mankind. Yet such will be the effect of his
reputation, while he suffers himself to indulge in any favourite
fault, that they who have no hope to reach his excellence will
catch at his failings, and his virtues will be cited to justify
the copiers of his vices."
Johnson: Rambler #164 (October 12, 1751)
Link
1,406. Admiration; Envy;
Self-Confidence
"Envy, curiosity, and a sense of the imperfection of our present
state, incline us to estimate the advantages which are in the
possession of others above their real value."
Johnson: Rambler #180 (December 7, 1751)
Link
1,439. Admiration; Conviviality;
Love
"It is always necessary to be loved, but not always necessary to
be reverenced."
Johnson: Rambler #188 (January 4, 1752)
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