HKB
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Often appears with: temperance and self-mastery · pleasure, pain, and the good life · will, choice, and freedom · justice as a virtue · understanding and social good · truth in personal narration · stoic-style practice · schemes and future projects · ruling faculty · reason and the intellect · rational and political animal · language, naming, and meaning
Usually: argument (3) · exhortation (3) · reflection (2) · temptation (2) · censure (2) · resignation (2) · injustice endured (1)
“Women have a great advantage that they may take up with little things, without disgracing themselves: a man cannot, except with fiddling.” James Boswell, Boswell's Life of Johnson · observation
“Observe what thy nature requires, so far as thou art governed by nature only: then do it and accept it, if thy nature, so far as thou art a living being, shall not be made worse by it.” Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius · precept
He demands that the soul remain good, simple, and content—wanting nothing—while living by observing what nature requires for a rational and political animal, and bearing events by distinguishing what can be endured from what merely perishes.
1. Wilt thou, then, my soul, never be good and simple and one and naked, more manifest than the body which surrounds thee? Wilt thou never enjoy an affectionate and contented disposition? Wilt thou never be full and without a want of any kind, longing for nothing more, nor desiring anything, either animate or inanimate, for the enjoyment of pleasures? nor yet desiring time wherein thou shalt have longer enjoyment, or…
He teaches that present understanding, social-minded conduct, and contentment with whatever happens are sufficient, and then gives a regimen: wipe imagination, curb desire, extinguish appetite, and keep reason in control.
the things done by virtue of the internal cause, that is, let there be movement and action terminating in this, in social acts, for this is according to thy nature. 32. Thou canst remove out of the way many useless things among those which disturb thee, for they lie entirely in thy opinion; and thou wilt then gain for thyself ample space by comprehending the whole universe in thy mind, and by contemplating the etern…
Boswell breakfasts and converses with Johnson on contentment, restless schemes, and “small things,” then discusses writing style and truth in narration, with Johnson urging a friend to stop spreading falsehoods.
is right to tell one man of such a handsome thing, which has been said of him by another. It tends to increase benevolence.' JOHNSON. 'Undoubtedly it is right, Sir.' On Tuesday, April 7, I breakfasted with him at his house. He said, 'nobody was content.' I mentioned to him a respectable person in Scotland whom he knew; and I asserted, that I really believed he was always content. JOHNSON. 'No, Sir, he is not content…
His third maxim teaches that he should conquer himself rather than fortune, change desires instead of the world, and accept that only thoughts are truly under his control, enabling contentment even without external goods.
useth to perplex the consciences of those weak and staggering minds, which inconstantly suffer themselves to passe to the practice of those things as good, which they afterwards judge evill. My third Maxime was, To endevour always rather to conquer my self then Fortune; and to change my desires, rather then the order of the world: and generally to accustome my self to beleeve, That there is nothing wholly in our pow…
To Aristius Fuscus, Horace contrasts city and country life, argues for living according to nature, and warns that courts and excess pleasures destroy independence and contentment.
inactivity is this, To go in ships and cars to search for bliss! No; what you seek, at Ulubrae you'll find, If to the quest you bring a balanced mind. XII. TO Iccitus. FRUCTIBUS AGRIPPAE. If, worthy Iccius, properly you use What you collect, Agrippa's revenues, You're well supplied: and Jove himself could tell No way to make you better off than well. A truce to murmuring: with another's store To use at pleasure, w…