The gratification which affluence of wealth, extent of power, and eminence of reputation confer, must be always, by their own nature, confined to a very small number; and the life of the greater part of mankind must be lost in empty wishes and painful comparisons, were not the balm of philosophy shed upon us, and our discontent at the appearances of unequal distribution soothed and appeased.
Interpretation
Wealth and power are privileges enjoyed by a few, leaving many dissatisfied, but philosophy helps reconcile these feelings.
Samuel Johnson reflects on the nature of wealth, power, and reputation, noting that these benefits are not universally accessible and often lead to dissatisfaction among the majority. He suggests that without the guidance and comfort of philosophy, people would be consumed by envy and longing for what they cannot have. Philosophy serves as a remedy, helping individuals manage their discontent and find peace amidst the inequalities of life.
In practice
This quote could be used in a discussion about the impact of wealth on happiness during a philosophy class.
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.
Really high-minded people are indifferent to happiness, especially other people's.
Reality is like a doughnut: Everything that is good and funny and juicy is outside the center, which is just emptiness.
The search for Reality is the most dangerous of all undertakings, for it destroys the world in which you live.
To each individual the world will take on a different connotation of meaning-the important lies in the desire to search for an answer.
It shouldn't be the consumer's responsibility to figure out what's cruel and what's kind, what's environmentally destructive and what's sustainable. Cruel and destructive food products should be illegal. We don't need the option of buying children's toys made with lead paint, or aerosols with chlorofluorocarbons, or medicines with unlabeled side effects. And we don't need the option of buying factory-farmed animals.
Intellect takes us along in the battle of life to a certain limit, but at the crucial moment it fails us. Faith transcends reason. It is when the horizon is the darkest and human reason is beaten down to the ground that faith shines brightest and comes to our rescue.
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