Dr Johnson said, the inscription should have been in Latin, as every thing intended to be universal and permanent, should be.

I suppose no person ever enjoyed with more relish the infusion of that fragrant leaf than Johnson.

If a man is prodigal, he cannot be truly generous.

The pleasure of gratifying whim is very great. It is known only by those who are whimsical.

I went to my father's at night. He spoke of poor John [Boswell's brother] with disgust. I was shocked and said, "He's your son, and God made him." He answered very harshly, "If my sons are idiots, can I help it?

A companion loves some agreeable qualities which a man may possess, but a friend loves the man himself.

My definition of Man is, a Cooking Animal. The beasts have memory, judgement, and all the faculties and passions of our mind, in a certain degree; but no beast is a cook....Man alone can dress a good dish; and every man whatever is more or less a cook, in seasoning what he himself eats.