To exact of every man who writes that he should say something new, would be to reduce authors to a small number; to oblige the most fertile genius to say only what is new, would be to contract his volumes to a few pages. Yet, surely, there ought to be some bounds to repetition; libraries ought no more to be heaped for ever with the same thoughts differently expressed, than with the same books differently decorated.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the importance of original thought in writing while acknowledging that some repetition is natural and necessary in literature.
Samuel Johnson's quote reflects on the expectation for writers to produce entirely new ideas, suggesting that such a demand would limit creativity and reduce the richness of literary expression. He argues that while originality is important, there must be a balance; literature can only be so diverse when themes and thoughts inherently repeat themselves, as they often do across different works and authors. Thus, he emphasizes that while new perspectives are valuable, the repetition of certain ideas across literature is an accepted part of the artistic and intellectual discourse.
In practice
In a lecture about literary analysis, one might use this quote to emphasize the value of exploring common themes in different works.
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.
In order to improve the mind, we ought less to learn, than to contemplate.
Knowledge has to be improved, challenged, and increased constantly, or it vanishes.
The idea that the majority of students attend a university for an education independent of the degree and grades is a hypocrisy everyone is happier not to expose. Occasionally some students do arrive for an education but rote and mechanical nature of the institution soon converts them to a less idealic attitude
No one can call themselves a writer until he or she has written at least fifty stories.
If you want a free society, teach your children what oppression tastes like. Tell them how many miracles it takes to get from here to there. Above all, encourage them to ask questions. Teach them to think for themselves.
It is my fervent wish and my greatest ambition to leave a work with a few useful instructions for the pianists after me.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.