I have tried too in my time to be a philosopher; but, I don't know how, cheerfulness was always breaking in.

Oliver Edwards

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell

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More information about this quote

Topic

Philosophy Pessimism Optimism

Speaker

Oliver Edwards

Author

James Boswell

Source

The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D

Genre

Biography

Language

English

Time

1778 1770s 18th century

Occupation

Lawyer

From

United Kingdom Europe

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Edwards, Oliver. Quoted in journal entry, written by James Boswell. 17 Apr. 1778.

Current Citation

Edwards, Oliver. Quoted in Life of Samuel Johnson. Written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

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A quote by Oliver Edwards about philosophy: “I have tried too in my time to be a philosopher; but, I don't know…”
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A quote by Oliver Edwards about philosophy: “I have tried too in my time to be a philosopher; but, I don't know…”
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A quote by Oliver Edwards about philosophy: “I have tried too in my time to be a philosopher; but, I don't know…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by James Boswell

The triumph of hope over experience.

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell

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Read The Life of Samuel Johnson at Project Gutenberg
More information about this quote
Topic
Wishful thinking Second marriage
Speaker
Samuel Johnson

Author

James Boswell
Source
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D
Genre
Biography
Language
English
Time
1784 1780s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, written by James Boswell. Vol. 1, London: Charles Dilly, 1791, "1770," aetat. 61.

Current Citation

Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

Another quote from the 1770s

One lives but once in this world.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Clavigo

More information about this quote
Topic
Preciousness of life Nature of life
Speaker
Carlos

Author

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Source
Clavigo
Medium
Play
Genre
Tragedy (play) Tragedy
Language
German
Time
1774 1770s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Clavigo. Leipzig: In der Weygand'schen Buchhandlung, 1774, act 1, sc. 1.

Another quote from 1778

I die adoring God, loving my friends, not hating my enemies, and detesting superstition.

Voltaire

More information about this quote
Topic
Approaching death

Author

Voltaire
Language
French
Time
1778 1770s 18th century
Authentication Score 1
Citation

Voltaire. Note to his secretary, Jean-Louis Wagniere. 28 Feb. 1778.