When I find that so much of my life has stolen unprofitably away, and that I can descry by retrospection scarcely a few single days properly and vigorously employed, why do I yet try to resolve again? I try, because reformation is necessary and despair is criminal. I try, in humble hope of the help of God.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the necessity of personal reform despite recognizing past failures, emphasizing hope and the importance of seeking divine assistance.
In this quote, Samuel Johnson grapples with the feelings of regret over wasted time in his life and the challenge of reconciling this with the determination to reattempt self-improvement. He conveys that while the past is often filled with unproductive days, the drive to reform oneself is essential and should be pursued, with faith in divine support providing strength to overcome despair.
In practice
During a motivational speech, one might quote this to encourage people to reflect on their life choices and the importance of change.
To be of no church is dangerous. Religion, of which the rewards are distant, and which is animated only by faith and hope, will glide by degrees out of the mind unless it be invigorated and reimpressed by external ordinances, by stated calls to worship, and the salutary influence of example.
He that reads and grows no wiser seldom suspects his own deficiency, but complains of hard words and obscure sentences, and asks why books are written which cannot be understood.
To let friendship die away by negligence and silence is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of the weary pilgrimage.
Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.
When any anxiety or gloom of the mind takes hold of you, make it a rule not to publish it by complaining; but exert yourselves to hide it, and by endeavoring to hide it you drive it away.
A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other.
If God is the DJ, then Life is the dance floor; Love is the rhythm and You are the music.
Oh, how hard it must be to die anywhere but in one's birthplace.
At my age, and in my circumstances, what sinister object, or personal emolument had I to seek after, in this life? The growing infirmities of age and the increasing love of retirement, daily confirm my decided predilection for domestic life: and the great Searcher of human hearts is my witness, that I have no wish, which aspires beyond the humble and happy lot of living and dying a private citizen on my own farm.
Victories and defeats form part of everyone's life - everyone, that is, except cowards, as you call them, because they never lose or win.
We have this habit of romanticizing the lives of writers. I remember when I was a kid, I was like, 'I want to be Kurt Vonnegut.'
Glass breaks so easily. No matter how careful you are.
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