Other related topics at: Families 34. Law; Parents!! Grrrr!! Johnson: "Why, Sir, I am a man of the world. I live in the world, and I take in some degree, the colour of the world as it moves along. Your father is a Judge in a remote part of the island, and all his notions are taken from the old world. Besides, Sir, there must always be a struggle between a father and son, while one aims at power and the other at independence." I [Boswell] said, I was afraid my father would force me to be a lawyer. Johnson: "Sir, you need not be afraid of his forcing you to be a laborious practising lawyer; that is not in his power. For the proverb says, 'One man may lead a horse to the water, but twenty cannot make him drink.' He may be displeased that you are not what he wishes you to be; but that displeasure will not go far. If he insists only on your having as much law is necessary for a man of property, and then endeavours to get you into Parliament, he is quite in the right." Boswell: Life Link 141. Children; Parents!!! Grrrrrr!!! He used to condemn me for putting Newbery's books into their hands as too trifling to engage their attention. "Babies do not want (said he) to hear about babies; they like to be told of giants and castles, and of somewhat which can stretch and stimulate their little minds." When in answer I would urge the numerous editions and quick sale of Tommy Prudent or Goody Two Shoes: "Remember always (said he) that the parents buy the books, and that the children never read them." Piozzi: Anecdotes Link 142. Appropriateness; Children; Parents!!! Grrrrrr!!! If you had had children, Sir, said I, would you have taught them anything? "I hope (replied he), that I should have willingly lived on bread and water to obtain instruction for them; but I would not have set their future friendship to hazard for the sake of thrusting into their heads knowledge of things for which they might not perhaps have either taste or necessity. You teach your daughters the diameters of the planets, and wonder when you have done that they do not delight in your company. No science can be communicated by mortal creatures without attention from the scholar; no attention can be obtained from children without the affliction of pain, and pain is never remembered without resentment." Piozzi: Anecdotes Link 143. Parents!!! Grrrrrr!!! Though he was attentive to the peace of children in general, no man had a stronger contempt than he for such parents as openly profess that they cannot govern their children. "How (says he) is an army governed? Such people, for the most part, multiply prohibitions till obedience becomes impossible, and authority appears absurd; and never suspect that they tease their family, their friends, and themselves, only because conversation runs low, and something must be said." Piozzi: Anecdotes Link 144. Children; Parents!!! Grrrrrr!!! "Poor people's children, dear Lady (said he), never respect them: I did not respect my own mother, though I loved her: and one day, when in anger she called me a puppy, I asked her if she knew what they call a puppy's mother." Piozzi: Anecdotes Link 305. Appropriateness; Parents; Shyness It having been mentioned to Dr. Johnson that a gentleman who had a son whom he imagined to have an extreme degree of timidity, resolved to send him to a publick school, that he might acquire confidence; --"Sir, (said Johnson,) this is a preposterous expedient for removing his infirmity; such a disposition should be cultivated in the shade. Placing him in a publick school is forcing an owl upon day." Boswell: Life Link 1,239. Parents (Grrrr!) "Parents are by no means exempt from the intoxication of dominion." Johnson: Rambler #148 (August 17, 1751) Link 1,241. Parents (Grrrr!) "The regal and parental tyrant differ only in the extent of their dominions." Johnson: Rambler #148 (August 17, 1751) Link 1,242. Parents (Grrrr!) "That he delights in the misery of others no man will confess, and yet what motive can make a father cruel?" Johnson: Rambler #148 (August 17, 1751) Link