Today is Samuel Johnson’s birthday. He was born on September 18, 1799. Wow! More than 300 years ago, but Sam’s birthday is well worth celebrating—he was a poet, collector of Shakespeare’s works, and creator of A Dictionary of the English Language. Published in 1755, it was the standard until the Oxford English Dictionary arrived in 1928.
It took Johnson nine years to complete his two-volume tome (he rarely rose before noon). It was more a work of art than of reference. His pithy, witty definitions gave succor (help in times of distress — when else would I get to use this quaint word?) to many a struggling scribe in need of inspiration. Hence, a few examples of his witty definitions:
Dull: Not exhilaterating (sic); not delightful; as, to make dictionaries is dull work
Mouth-friend: Someone who pretends to be your friend
Stockjobber: A low wretch who gets money by buying and selling shares
And of his wisdom:
“Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.”
“Words are but the signs of ideas.”
“The greatest part of a writer’s time is spent in reading in order to
write. A man will turn over half a library to make a book.”
“The world is like a grand staircase, some are going up and some are going down.”
“No man can taste the fruits of autumn while he is delighting his
scent with the flowers of spring.”
“If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance. What we ever hope to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence.”
“What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.”
“The future is purchased by the present.”
A personal favorite: “No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money.” Write on!
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