500. Caution; Inconclusion
"He who will determine ... against that which he knows, because
there may be something which he knows not; he that can set
hypothetical possibility against acknowledged certainty, is not
to be admitted among reasonable beings."
Johnson: Rasselas [Imlac]
Note: If you haven't read it yet, please read this note of caution regarding quotes from
Rasselas.
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982. Argument; Inconclusiveness;
Mediocrity; Ouch!!!
Johnson, for sport perhaps, or from the spirit of contradiction,
eagerly maintained that Derrick had merit as a writer. Mr.
Morgan argued with him directly, in vain. At length he had
recourse to this device. "Pray, Sir, (said he,) whether do you
reckon Derrick or Smart the best poet?" Johnson at once felt
himself rouzed; and answered, "Sir, there is no settling the
point of precedency between a louse and a flea."
Boswell: Life of Johnson
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1,330. Argument; Inconclusiveness;
Truth
"All the force of reason and all the charms of language are
indeed necessary to support positions which every man hears with
a wish to confute them. Truth finds an easy entrance into the
mind when she is introduced by desire, and attended by pleasure;
but when she intrudes uncalled, and brings only fear and sorrow
in her train, the passes of the intellect are barred against her
by prejudice and passion; if she sometimes forces her way by
the batteries of argument, she seldom long keeps possession of
her conquests, but is ejected by some favoured enemy, or at
best obtains only a nominal sovereignty, without influence and
without authority."
Johnson: Rambler #165 (October 15, 1751)
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1,583. Humanity; Inconclusiveness;
Tolerance
Such is the uncertainty in which we are always likely to
remain with regard to questions wherein we have most interest,
and which every day affords us fresh opportunity to examine: we
may examine, indeed, but we never can decide, because our
faculties are unequal to the subject: we see a little, and form
an opinion; we see more, and change it.
This inconstancy and unsteadiness, to which we must so often
find ourselves liable, ought certainly to teach us moderation
and forbearance towards those who cannot accommodate themselves
to our sentiments: if they are deceived, we have no right to
attribute their mistake to obstinacy or negligence, because we
likewise have been mistaken; we may, perhaps, again change our
own opinion: and what excuse shall we be able to find for
aversion and malignity conceived against him, whom we shall then
find to have committed no fault, and who offended us only by
refusing to follow us into errour?
Johnson: Adventurer #107 (November 13, 1753)
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