Books Quote by James Boswell
“My readers, who may at first be apt to consider Quotation as downright pedantry, will be surprised when I assure them, that next to the simple imitation of sounds and gestures, Quotation is the most natural and most frequent habitude of human nature. For, Quotation must not be confined to passages adduced out of authors. He who cites the opinion, or remark, or saying of another, whether it has been written or spoken, is certainly one who quotes; and this we shall find to be universally practiced.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell, 1791
Quotation is a fundamental human habit of referencing others’ words, not limited to written sources.
In simple terms: People naturally quote others in speech and writing.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and use quoting as a communication tool.
Themes
communication
culture
language
human behavior
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
observational
explanatory
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- journalism
- everyday conversation
- teaching
- debate
Key Concepts
referencing
social learning
cognitive patterns
Questions to Reflect On
- How does quoting shape credibility?
- When might quoting be manipulative?
A Different Perspective
Quotes can be misused to misrepresent original intent.
![“Pedantry and mastery are opposite attitudes toward rules. To apply a rule to the letter, rigidly, unquestioningly, in cases where it fits and in cases where it does not fit, is pedantry. [...] To apply a rule with natural ease, with judgment, noticing the cases where it fits, and without ever…” quote by George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/927/george-polya-10766_action_pedantry-and-mastery-are-opposite-attitu_112396.jpg)
![“The most ingenious men are now agreed, that [universities] are only nurseries of prejudice, corruption, barbarism, and pedantry.” quote by George Berkeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/445/george-berkeley-8287_barbarism_the-most-ingenious-men-are-now-agreed-th_494914.jpg)
![“[A]s a lady adjusts her dress before a mirror, a man adjusts his character by looking at his journal.” quote by James Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0ff/james-boswell-7136_autobiography_a-s-a-lady-adjusts-her-dress-before-a-mi_400513.jpg)
