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08/21/2001 Archived Entry: "21-August-2001 -- The Samuel Johnson Sound Bite Page"

The Samuel Johnson Sound Bite Page -- "Want ready access to some Samuel Johnson quotes and some of his more concise thoughts? That's why this site exists. Samuel Johnson, literary titan of the 18th century — essayist, lexicographer, poet, editor, critic, and famous talker — is the second most quoted person in the English language, after Shakespeare." (Comments: Am I the only ignorant fool out there? I've never heard of Samuel Johnson. Furthermore, I am totally amazed that he is the second most quoted person in the English langauge. Crazy!)

Replies: 6 comments

Dr. Johnson's quotations are some of the most famous sayings in the English language. I've read Boswells' LIFE OF JOHNSON, which is pretty heavy reading at times, but liberally interspersed with quoteable sayings.

As far as I know, the only reason that Boswell is famous is that he was Dr. Johnson's biographer.

Posted by MCW @ 08/24/2001 09:46 AM EST

I never heard 'bout this guy... then again, if he didn't appear in a Disney, Time/Warner/AOL, or even Fox ("Samuel Johnson: This Time, It's Personal") movie, I wouldn't be surprised if most North Americans don't know this guy either.

Perhaps MTV could create more awareness in today's youth: "Samuel Johnson: The Father of English Lingo and Hip Hop".

He he :).

Posted by Francis Wu @ 08/22/2001 01:31 PM EST

I am quite happy that most Americans have not heard of Johnson--I have borrowed his quotes many times to appear witty at cocktail parties! Of course, it's all about timing isn't it? For a good parody of Dr. Johnson and his impact on history, I would recommend watching Rowan Atkinson's(pre Mr. Bean) brillant series "Blackadder", specifically Series Three, Episode Three: Ink and Incapability. Dr. Johnson is credited with creating one of the most popular editions of the English Language Dictionary. The Blackadder episode is about the creation and publication of the dictionary. It is a brillant satire of the literary world at that time (1750's).

Posted by Catherine S. @ 08/22/2001 12:35 PM EST

Just did a quick straw poll in the office - 3 out of 20+ people had even the vaguest idea of who Johnson was. And this is in England, where he's likely to be most widely known. It's not surprising that many Americans haven't heard of an English writer who died in the 1790s, whatever their educational background.

Posted by Alan Fisher @ 08/22/2001 06:14 AM EST

I find it amazing that a supposedly educated person has never heard of Samuel Johnson. Its even more amazing that they should own up to the fact.

And yes, Johnson is the second most quoted figure in the English language, and his biographer, Boswell, is almost as celebrated. You probably haven't heard of him either.

It just goes to show how ignorant most tech/net types are of intellectual life outside their specialised field. It might even explain why the net is such a screw up.

Posted by Hugh Rhodes @ 08/22/2001 04:39 AM EST

Although I'd heard of him (I am English, after all), I'd be surprised if he was the second most quoted person in modern times - what about Wilde, Churchill, or even Groucho Marx or Woody Allen?

Liked his quote on Americans though: "Sir, they are a race of convicts, and ought to be thankful for anything we allow them short of hanging." It's little wonder Americans found independence such an attractive prospect, is it? And what would he have thought of Australians?

Posted by Alan Fisher @ 08/22/2001 04:14 AM EST

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