The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope.
Interpretation
Humans are driven by hope rather than just seeking pleasure.
Samuel Johnson's quote suggests that the innate tendencies of human thought and aspiration are not merely focused on transient pleasures, but rather on the pursuit of hope and the possibilities that the future can bring. This reflects a deeper psychological truth about human motivation, indicating that hope inspires us to strive for betterment and endure challenges.
In practice
In a speech about resilience, one might say, 'As Samuel Johnson pointed out, the natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope.'
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.
As a species, we tend to live in environments where our own artifacts dominate. The way we shape our environment and are in turn shaped by it is a key theme in my fiction - indeed, it's a key part of a great deal of science fiction.
It is always safe to assume that people are more subtle and less sensitive than they seem.
But Father has also taught him: Treat a man as if he had a fine reputation to protect, and he will usually endeavor to deserve it.
A cat won't curry favor even if it's in their best interests to do so. A cat can't be a hypocrite. If more preachers were like cats, this would be a more religious country.
So certainly, if we can tell evil stories to make people sick, we can also tell good myths that make them well.
There was never a good war, or a bad peace.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.