--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Deign on the passing world to turn thine…" description: "\"Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, And pause awhile from letters, to be wise.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/samuel-johnson-50_art_deign-on-the-passing-world-to-turn-thine_52198.png" --- # Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, And pause… ![“Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, And pause awhile from letters, to be wise.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/samuel-johnson-50_art_deign-on-the-passing-world-to-turn-thine_52198.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/samuel-johnson-50_art_deign-on-the-passing-world-to-turn-thine_52198.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/samuel-johnson-50_art_deign-on-the-passing-world-to-turn-thine_52198.png) > “Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, And pause awhile from letters, to be wise.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages stepping back from daily distractions and intellectual pursuits to gain deeper insight. **In simple terms:** Pause worldly pursuits for wisdom. Key Takeaway Reflection yields insight. Themes self‑reflection wisdom detachment mindfulness philosophy Mood thoughtful calm Type aphorism advice When to use this quote - overwhelmed by work - constant reading - busy lifestyle Key Concepts contemplation inner peace Practical Applications - meditation - journaling Questions to Reflect On - What distractions prevent you from reflecting? - How can you create space for contemplation? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Awhile Letters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awhile-letters-739699/) [Being wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-wise/) [Deign Passing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deign-passing-739702/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Eyes Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes-pause-739701/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Letters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letters/) [Letters Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letters-wise-739700/) [Passing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passing/) [Passings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passings/) [Patron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patron/) [Pause Awhile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pause-awhile-739698/) [Pauses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pauses/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, And pause a while from learning to be wise. There mark what ills the scholar's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/deign-on-the-passing-world-to-turn-thine-eyes-and-pause-a-while-from/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pause awhile, And let my counsel sway you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/pause-awhile-and-let-my-counsel-sway-you/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Is not a patron one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/is-not-a-patron-one-who-looks-with-unconcern-on-a-man-struggling-for/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Patron: One who countenances, supports or protects. Commonly a wretch who supports with insolence, and is repaid in flattery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/patron-one-who-countenances-supports-or-protects-commonly-a-wretch/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Is not a patron my lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/is-not-a-patron-my-lord-one-who-looks-with-unconcern-on-a-man-2/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [There mark what ills the scholar's life assail, toil, envy, want, and patron.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/there-mark-what-ills-the-scholar-s-life-assail-toil-envy-want-and/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The drama's laws the drama's patrons give. For we that live to please must please to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-drama-s-laws-the-drama-s-patrons-give-for-we-that-live-to-please/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [As every writer has his use, every writer ought to have his patrons; and since no man, however high he may now stand, can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/as-every-writer-has-his-use-every-writer-ought-to-have-his-patrons/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The diversion of baiting an author has the sanction of all ages and nations, and is more lawful than the sport of teasing other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-diversion-of-baiting-an-author-has-the-sanction-of-all-ages-and/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Is not a patron, my lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and when he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/is-not-a-patron-my-lord-one-who-looks-with-unconcern-on-a-man/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Mere bashfulness without merit is awkward; and merit without modesty, insolent. But modest merit has a double claim to acceptance, and generally meets with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/mere-bashfulness-without-merit-is-awkward-and-merit-without-modesty/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [The place was packed as we flooded in, all the patrons freezing at the sight of an armed sheriff, two deputies, an Indian, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-johnson/the-place-was-packed-as-we-flooded-in-all-the-patrons-freezing-at-the/) [Craig Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-johnson/) > [Newspapers are not free and they never have been. They can appear to be so, but someone, somewhere is covering the costs whether that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/newspapers-are-not-free-and-they-never-have-been-they-can-appear-to/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [All backups take their cue from Elrod Hendricks, the patron saint of erstwhile catchers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rodrick/all-backups-take-their-cue-from-elrod-hendricks-the-patron-saint-of/) [Stephen Rodrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rodrick/) > [Allah will never humiliate the one who takes his Lord as friend and patron.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-qayyim-al-jawziyya/allah-will-never-humiliate-the-one-who-takes-his-lord-as-friend-and/) [Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-qayyim-al-jawziyya/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, And pause awhile from letters, to be wise.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/deign-on-the-passing-world-to-turn-thine-eyes-and-pause-awhile-from/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/deign-on-the-passing-world-to-turn-thine-eyes-and-pause-awhile-from/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/samuel-johnson-50_art_deign-on-the-passing-world-to-turn-thine_52198.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/samuel-johnson-50_art_deign-on-the-passing-world-to-turn-thine_52198.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/samuel-johnson-50_art_deign-on-the-passing-world-to-turn-thine_52198.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, And pause awhile from letters, to be wise.” — Samuel Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Samuel Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Deign on the passing world to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/deign-on-the-passing-world-to-turn-thine-eyes-and-pause-awhile-from/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/deign-on-the-passing-world-to-turn-thine-eyes-and-pause-awhile-from/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```