785. Influence
"Most minds are the slaves of external circumstances, and conform
to any hand that undertakes to mould them."
Johnson: Rambler #70 (November 17, 1750)
Link
786. Corruption; Influence
"Every one should consider himself as intrusted not only with his
own conduct, but with that of others; and as accountable, not
only for the 
duties which he neglects, or the crimes
that he
commits, but for that negligence and irregularity which he may
encourage or inculcate. Every man, in whatever station, has, or
endeavours to have his followers, admirers, and imitators, and
has therefore the influence of his example to watch with
care."
Johnson: Rambler #70 (November 17, 1750)
Link
832. Astrology; Choice; Influence
"But to the particular species of excellence men are directed,
not by an ascendant planet or predominating humour, but by the
first book which they read, some early conversation which they
heard, or some accident which excited ardour and emulation."
Johnson: Pope (Lives of the Poets)
Link
869. Influence; Writing
"The wickedness of a loose or profane author is more atrocious
than that of a giddy libertine or drunken ravisher, not only
because it extends its effects wider, as a pestilence that taints
the air is more destructive than poison infused in a draught, but
because it is committed with cool deliberation."
Johnson: Rambler #77 (December 11, 1750)
Link
996. Criticism; Influence;
Writing
"The faults of a writer of acknowledged excellence are more
dangerous, because the influence of his example is more
extensive; and the interest of learning requires that they
should be discovered and stigmatized, before they have the
sanction of antiquity conferred upon them, and become precedents
of indisputable authority."
Johnson: Rambler #93 (February 5, 1751)
Link
1,203. Influence; Justice;
Moderation
"To scatter praise or blame without regard to justice is to
destroy the distinction of good and evil. Many have no other
test of actions than general opinion; and all are so far
influenced by a sense of reputation that they are often
restrained by fear of reproach, and excited by hope of honour,
when other principles have lost their power."
Johnson: Rambler #136 (July 6, 1751)
Link
1,223. Ambition; Influence
"Whoever shall review his life will generally find, that the
whole tenor of his conduct has been determined by some accident
of no apparent moment, or by a combination of inconsiderable
circumstances, acting when his imagination was unoccupied, and
his judgment unsettled; and that his principles and actions have
taken their colour from some secret infusion, mingled without
design in the current of his ideas. The desires that predominate
in our hearts are instilled by imperceptible communications at
the time when we look upon the various scenes of the world, and
the different employments of men, with the neutrality of
inexperience; and we come forth from the nursery or the school,
invariably destined to the pursuit of great acquisitions or petty
accomplishments."
Johnson: Rambler #141 (July 23, 1751) [from a fictional
correspondent named Papilius]
Link
1,325. Influence; Success
"As the greater part of humankind speak and act wholly by imitation, most of those who aspire to honour and applause propose to themselves some example which serves as the model of their conduct and the limit of their hopes. Almost every man, if closely examined, will be found to have enlisted himself under some leader whom he expects to conduct him to renown; to have some hero or other, living or dead, in his view, whose character he endeavours to assume, and whose performances he labours to equal.
When the original is well chosen and judiciously copied, the imitator often arrives at excellence which he could never have attained without direction; for few are formed with abilities to discover new possibilities of excellence, and to distinguish themselves by means never tried before."
Johnson: Rambler #164 (October 12, 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
1,329. Biography; Influence
"It is particularly the duty of those who consign illustrious
names to posterity, to take care lest their readers be misled by
ambiguous examples. That writer may be justly condemned as an
enemy to goodness, who suffers fondness or interest to confound
right with wrong, or to shelter the faults which even the wisest
and best have committed from that ignominy which guilt ought
always to suffer, and with which it should be more deeply
stigmatized when dignified by its neighbourhood to uncommon
worth, since we shall be in danger of beholding it without
abhorrence, unless its turpitude be laid open, and the eye
secured from the deception of surrounding splendour."
Johnson: Rambler #164 (October 12, 1751)
Link
