I borrowed today out of the Advocate's Library, David Hume's Treatise of Human Nature, but found it so abstruse, so contrary to so...und sense and reason, and so drearying its effects on the mind, if it had any, that I resolved to return it without reading it. LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Addison writes with the ease of a gentleman. His readers fancy that a wise and accomplished companion is talking to them; so that ...he insinuates his sentiments and taste into their minds by an imperceptible influence. Johnson writes like a teacher. He dictates to his readers as if from an academical chair. They attend with awe and admiration; and his precepts are impressed upon them by his commanding eloquence. Addison's style, like a light wine, pleases everybody from the first. Johnson's, like a liquor of more body, seems too strong at first, but, by degrees, is highly relished.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Writing a book I have found to be like building a house. A man forms a plan, and collects materials. He thinks he has enough to ra...ise a large and stately edifice; but after he has arranged, compacted and polished, his work turns out to be a very small performance. The authour however like the builder, knows how much labour his work has cost him; and therefore estimates it at a higher rate than other people think it deserves,LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
After I went to bed I had a curious fancy as to dreams. In sleep the doors of the mind are shut, and thoughts come jumping in at t...he windows. They tumble headlong, and therefore are so disorderly and strange. Sometimes they are stout and light on their feet, and then they are rational dreams.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
I was not at all shocked with this execution at the time. John died seemingly without much pain. He was effectually hanged, the ro...pe having fixed upon his neck very firmly, and he was allowed to hang near three quarters of an hour; so that any attempt to recover him would have been in vain. I comforted myself in thinking that by giving up the scheme I had avoided much anxiety and uneasiness.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
I argued that the chastity of women was of much more consequence than that of men, as the property and rights of families depend u...pon it.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
In the evening my wife insisted to read this journal, and, finding in it such explicit instances of licentiousness, she was much a...ffected and told me that she had come to a resolution never again to consider herself my wife; though for the sake of her children and mine, as a friend, she would preserve appearances. When I saw her in great uneasiness, and dreaded somewhat--though not with much apprehension--her resolution, I was awaked from my dream of licentiousness, and saw my bad conduct in a shocking light.... She comforted me with hopes of my amendment.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
I had a strong curiosity to be satisfied if he persisted in disbelieving a future state even when he had death before his eyes....... I asked him if the thought of annihilation never gave him any uneasiness. He said not the least.... "Well," said I, "Mr. Hume, I hope to triumph over you when I meet you in a future state; and remember you are not to pretend that you was joking with all this infidelity." "No, no," said he. "But I shall have been so long there before you come that it will be nothing new."LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »