Johnson Miscellania From Page 234

On usefulness and rarity: "You must consider, that a thing is valued according to its rarity. A pebble that paves the street is in itself more useful than the diamond upon a lady's finger."

On the unpleasantness of sea travel: "Why, sir, no man will be a sailor, who has contrivance enough to get himself into a jail; for, being in a ship is being in a jail, with the chance of being drowned."

On what books to take on a long journey: "Why, sir, if you are to have but one book with you upon a journey, let is be a book of science. When you have read through a book of entertainment, you know it, and it can do no more for you; but a book of science is inexhaustible."