��&c. related probably the next Day, which is verbatim as he spoke it with an intermixture of French phrases.
TALKING ON THE SUBJECT OF SCEPTICISM. JOHNSON. 'The eyes of the mind are like the eyes of the Body. They can see but at such a distance. But because we cannot see beyond this point, is there nothing beyond it?'
ON THE WANT OF MEMORY.
- No, Sir, it is not true ; in general every person has an equal
capacity for reminiscence, and for one thing as well as another ; otherwise it would be like a person's complaining that he could hold silver in his hand, but could not hold copper x .'
A GENTLEMAN. ' I think when a person laughs when alone he supposes himself for the moment with company.'
JOHNSON. 'Yes, if it be true that laughter is a comparison of self-superiority, you must suppose some person with you 2 .'
' No, Sir,' he once said, * people are not born with a particular genius for particular employments or studies, for it would be like saying that a man could see a great way east, but could not west 3 . It is good sense applied with diligence to what was at first a mere accident, and which, by great application, grew to be called, by the generality of mankind, a particular genius V
1 ' The true art of memory is the apply to law as to tragick poetry." art of attention.' Idler, No. 74. BOSWELL. " Yet, Sir, you did apply
2 ' Mr. Hobbes in his Discourse of to tragick poetry, not to law." JOHN- Human Nature concludes thus : SON. " Because, Sir, I had not money " The passion of laughter is nothing to study law. Sir, the man who has else but sudden glory arising from vigour, may walk to the east, just as some sudden conception of some well as to the west, if he happens to eminency in ourselves by comparison turn his head that way.'" Life, v. 35. with the infirmity of others, or with Mr. Bryce in his American Com- our own formerly ; for men laugh at monvuealth (2nd. ed. ii. 631) mis- the follies of themselves past, when quoting this passage says : ' Dr. they come suddenly to remembrance, Johnson thought that if he had taken except they bring with them any to politics he would have been as present dishonour.' The Spectator, distinguished therein as he was in No. 47. poetry.'
3 'JOHNSON. "I could as easily 4 'The true genius is a mind of
Some
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