It is not the desire of new acquisitions, but the glory of conquests, that fires the soldier's breast; as indeed the town is seldom worth much, when it has suffered the devastations of a siege.
Interpretation
True motivation stems from honor and achievement rather than mere material gain.
In this quote, Samuel Johnson emphasizes that a soldier's drive is fueled more by the honor and glory of victory rather than the simple desire for new possessions. He suggests that the spoils of war are often diminished in value when they come at the cost of destruction and suffering, implying that true fulfillment comes from noble pursuits rather than material ones.
In practice
In a speech to motivate soldiers before a deployment, emphasizing the honor of serving their country.
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.
I might believe I had unusual talent if I did not know what good music was; I might enjoy half an hour's practice a day if I were busy and happy the rest of the time. You do not know what life means when all the difficulties are removed! I am simply smothered and sickened with advantages. It is like eating a sweet dessert the first thing in the morning.
A mind at peace, a mind centered and not focused on harming others, is stronger than any physical force in the universe.
People ask me about what sacrifices I've made. I always answer: I've made no sacrifices, I've made choices.
To accept good advice is but to increase one's own ability.
Remember that this greatness was won by men with courage, with knowledge of their duty, and with a sense of honor in action.
A thing derided is a thing dead; a laughing man is stronger than a suffering man.
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