Those writers who lie on the watch for novelty can have little hope of greatness; for great things cannot have escaped former observation.
Interpretation
Originality in writing comes from observing and reflecting on established ideas rather than chasing trends.
Samuel Johnson suggests that writers who constantly seek novelty may overlook the profound truths and insights that have already been discovered. True greatness in writing arises from the ability to see and articulate what has been previously observed, rather than just trying to be different for the sake of it. This emphasizes the value of depth over superficiality in creative endeavors.
In practice
A writer could use this quote in a workshop on creative writing to inspire originality.
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 covet truth; beauty is unripe childhood's cheat; I leave it behind with the games of youth.
If he [Thomas Edison] had a needle to find in a haystack, he would not stop to reason where it was most likely to be, but would proceed at once with the feverish diligence of a bee, to examine straw after straw until he found the object of his search. ... [J]ust a little theory and calculation would have saved him ninety percent of his labor.
If you are on the right path you will find that invisible hands are helping.
...in a time lacking in truth and certainty and filled with anguish and despair, no woman should be shamefaced in attempting to give back to the world, through her work, a portion of its lost heart.
Ask yourself what problem you have right now. Not next year, tomorrow or five minutes from now. You can always cope with the now, but you can never cope with the future. Nor do you have to. The answer, the strength and the right action will be there when you need it. Not before or after.
It is best to act with confidence, no matter how little right you have to it.
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