James Boswell book The Life of Samuel Johnson
Quoting Edwards, an old schoolmate of Johnson's (17 April 1778)
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. (1791)
As quoted by Amanda Gefter (from the symposium in honor of Wheeler's 90th birthday) [Trespassing on Einstein's lawn: a father, a daughter, the meaning of nothing, and the beginning of everything, 2014, https://books.google.com/books?id=NUMkAAAAQBAJ]
James Boswell book The Life of Samuel Johnson
Quoting Edwards, an old schoolmate of Johnson's (17 April 1778)
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. (1791)
“Perhaps my cynicism comes in good time. Better I have it early than too late.”
Sheri S. Tepper (1929–2016) American fiction writer
Source: Singer from the Sea (1999), Chapter 8, “A Proposal and What Followed” (p. 139)
Steven Brust (1955) American fantasy and science fiction author
Kiera the Thief, in Orca (1996), Ch. 9
“The truth is that I imagined every bit of good fortune that has come my way.”
Scott Adams (1957) cartoonist, writer
Context: Years later, when "Dilbert" was in thousands of newspapers, people often asked me if I ever imagined being so lucky. I usually said no, because that's the answer people expected. The truth is that I imagined every bit of good fortune that has come my way. But in my imagination I also invented a belt that would allow me to fly and had special permission from Congress to urinate like a bird wherever I wanted. I wake up every morning disappointed that I have to wear pants and walk. Imagination has a way of breeding disappointment.
Thomas Fuller (writer) (1654–1734) British physician, preacher, and intellectual
These precepts were first collected as advice for Fuller's son John.
Compare Poor Richard's Almanack (1751) : Many a Man would have been worse, if his Estate had been better.
Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727)
John Steinbeck book The Winter of Our Discontent
Source: The Winter of Our Discontent (1961), Part One, Chapter II
Josef Pieper (1904–1997) German philosopher
Since "the answers of the special sciences" do not reach "the horizon of total reality", they are given "without having to speak at the same time of 'God and the world.'" (p. 96)
Source: Leisure, the Basis of Culture (1948), The Philosophical Act, p. 95