4. Consultation of others; Independent
Study/Efforts
"The reason why the authors, which are yet read, of the sixteenth
century, are so little understood, is, that they are read alone;
and no help is borrowed from those who lived with them, or before
them."
Boswell: Life
Link
573. Consultation of Others;
Self-Confidence; Writing
"Consultation and compliance can conduce little to the perfection
of any literary performance; for whoever is so doubtful of his
own abilities as to encourage the remarks of others, will find
himself every day embarrassed with new difficulties, and will
harass his mind, in vain, with the hopeless labour of uniting
heterogeneous ideas, digesting independent hints, and collecting
into one point the several rays of borrowed light, emitted often
with contrary directions."
Johnson: Rambler #23 (June 5, 1750)
Link
1,556. Arrogance; Consultation of
Others; Reading
"If the wits of the present time expect the regard of posterity,
which will then inherit the reason which is now thought superior
to instruction, surely they may allow themselves to be
instructed by the reason of former generations. When, therefore,
an author declares, that he has been able to learn nothing
from the writings of his predecessors, and such a declaration has
been lately made, nothing but a degree of arrogance unpardonable
in the greatest human understanding, can hinder him from
perceiving that he is raising prejudices against his own
performance; for with what hopes of success can he attempt that
in which greater abilities have hitherto miscarried? or with
what peculiar force does he suppose himself invigorated,
that difficulties hitherto invincible should give way before
him?"
Johnson: Adventurer #85 (August 28, 1753)
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