I have already enjoyed too much; give me something to desire.
Interpretation
Desires bring fulfillment; too much enjoyment can lead to stagnation.
Samuel Johnson reflects on the idea that constant satisfaction can lead to a lack of motivation or desire in life. Without something to strive for or look forward to, even the most enjoyable experiences can become unfulfilling, emphasizing the importance of desire and aspiration in maintaining happiness and engagement.
In practice
This quote could be shared during a motivational speech to inspire listeners to pursue their dreams.
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 you want to be happy, set yourself a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes. Happiness is within you. It comes from doing some certain thing into which you can put all your thought and energy. If you want to be happy, get enthusiastic about something.
There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.
One thing is certain: you can never become anything other than yourself, and unless you become yourself you cannot be happy. Happiness happens only when a rosebush grows roseflowers; when it flowers, when it has its own individuality. You may be a rosebush and trying to flower as lotus flower - that is creating insanity. Erase the mind. And the way to erase it is not by fight: the way to erase it is just to become aware.
What if in my waking hours a sound should ring through the silent halls of hearing? ... Would the bow and string tension of life snap? Would the heart over weighted with sudden joy stop beating for very excess of happiness?
I don't know what good it is to know so much and be smart as whips and all if it doesn't make you happy.
That is happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.