I have tried too in my time to be a philosopher; but, I don't know…

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I have tried too in my time to be a philosopher; but, I don't know how, cheerfulness was always breaking in.

Oliver Edwards

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell · 1778

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Topic

Philosophy Pessimism Optimism

Genre

Biography

Time

1778

Person

Oliver Edwards

Provenance

Current citation

Edwards, Oliver. Quoted in Life of Samuel Johnson. Written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

Original citation

Edwards, Oliver. Quoted in journal entry, written by James Boswell. 17 Apr. 1778.

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I have tried too in my time to be a philosopher; but, I don't know how, cheerfulness was… — Oliver Edwards

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