A book may be
good for nothing; or there may be only one thing in it worth knowing;
are we to read it all through? These Voyages, (pointing to the three
large volumes of Voyages to the South Sea, which were just come out) WHO
will read them through? A man had better work his way before the mast,
than read them through; they will be eaten by rats and mice, before they
are read through. There can be little entertainment in such books; one
set of Savages is like another.' BOSWELL. 'I do not think the people of
Otaheite can be reckoned Savages.' JOHNSON. 'Don't cant in defence of
Savages.' BOSWELL. 'They have the art of navigation.' JOHNSON. 'A dog or
a cat can swim.' BOSWELL. 'They carve very ingeniously.' JOHNSON. 'A cat
can scratch, and a child with a nail can scratch.' I perceived this was
none of the mollia tempora fandi; so desisted.
Upon his mentioning that when he came to College he wrote his first
exercise twice over; but never did so afterwards; MISS ADAMS. 'I
suppose, Sir, you could not make them better?' JOHNSON.
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