--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have protracted my work till most of…" description: "\"I have protracted my work till most of those whom I wished to please have sunk into the grave, and success and miscarriage are empty sounds: I therefor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/samuel-johnson-50_apathy_i-have-protracted-my-work-till-most-of-t_1596730.png" --- # I have protracted my work till most of those whom I wished… ![“I have protracted my work till most of those whom I wished to please have sunk into the grave, and success and miscarriage are empty sounds: I therefore dismiss it with frigid tranquillity, having little to fear or hope from censure or from praise.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/samuel-johnson-50_apathy_i-have-protracted-my-work-till-most-of-t_1596730.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/samuel-johnson-50_apathy_i-have-protracted-my-work-till-most-of-t_1596730.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/samuel-johnson-50_apathy_i-have-protracted-my-work-till-most-of-t_1596730.png) > “I have protracted my work till most of those whom I wished to please have sunk into the grave, and success and miscarriage are empty sounds: I therefore dismiss it with frigid tranquillity, having little to fear or hope from censure or from praise.” [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. He reflects on delayed work, noting that success and failure feel meaningless, and he remains indifferent to praise or criticism. **In simple terms:** He feels indifferent about success and failure after procrastination. Key Takeaway Accept impermanence of external validation. Themes philosophy existentialism detachment Mood contemplative melancholic Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal reflection - writing - career decisions Key Concepts time mortality achievement legacy Questions to Reflect On - What drives your sense of purpose? - How can you find meaning beyond external approval? A Different Perspective May foster disengagement from meaningful goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apathy/) [Censure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censure/) [Empty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty/) [Frigid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frigid/) [Frigid Tranquillity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frigid-tranquillity-6062313/) [Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graves/) [Indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifference/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Miscarriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miscarriage/) [Please](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/please/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) [Protracted Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protracted-work-6062314/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Miscarriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-miscarriage-6062315/) [Tranquillity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tranquillity/) [Tranquillity Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tranquillity-having-4164709/) ## Related quotes > [What is a good person? One who achieves tranquillity by having formed the habit of asking on every occasion, "what is the right thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/what-is-a-good-person-one-who-achieves-tranquillity-by-having-formed/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [From Bard, to Bard, the frigid Caution crept, Till Declamation roar'd, while Passion slept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/from-bard-to-bard-the-frigid-caution-crept-till-declamation-roar-d/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Whatever withdraws us from the power of our senses; whatever makes the past, the distant, or the future, predominate over the present, advances us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/whatever-withdraws-us-from-the-power-of-our-senses-whatever-makes-the/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Whatever withdraws us from the power of our senses; whatever makes the past, the distant, or the future predominate over the present, advances us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/whatever-withdraws-us-from-the-power-of-our-senses-whatever-makes-the-2/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Every class of society has its cant of lamentation, which is understood or regarded by none but themselves; and every part of life has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/every-class-of-society-has-its-cant-of-lamentation-which-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If in an actor there appears an utter vacancy of meaning, a frigid equality, a stupid languor, a torpid apathy, the greatest kindness that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-in-an-actor-there-appears-an-utter-vacancy-of-meaning-a-frigid/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Diffidence may check resolution and obstruct performance, but compensates its embarrassments by more important advantages; it conciliates the proud, and softens the severe; averts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/diffidence-may-check-resolution-and-obstruct-performance-but/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Prudence operates on life in the same manner as rule of composition; it produces vigilance rather than elevation; rather prevents loss than procures advantage;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/prudence-operates-on-life-in-the-same-manner-as-rule-of-composition/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The whole power of cunning is privative; to say nothing, and to do nothing , is the utmost of its reach. Yet men, thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-whole-power-of-cunning-is-privative-to-say-nothing-and-to-do/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I have often thought that there has rarely passed a life of which a judicious and faithful narrative would not be useful; for not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-have-often-thought-that-there-has-rarely-passed-a-life-of-which-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Such is the uncertainty of human affairs, that security and despair are equal follies; and as it is presumption and arrogance to anticipate triumphs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/such-is-the-uncertainty-of-human-affairs-that-security-and-despair/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I am far from any intention to limit curiosity, or confine the labours of learning to arts of immediate and necessary use. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-am-far-from-any-intention-to-limit-curiosity-or-confine-the-labours/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“What I needed was to lose myself in a good book, one with tons of sex and angst, complete with an unbelievable happily-ever-after that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-lynn/what-i-needed-was-to-lose-myself-in-a-good-book-one-with-tons-of-sex/) [J. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-lynn/) > [Once we realized that there were these 25 invariable types - the class politician, the frigid popular girl, the kid who tags along behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/once-we-realized-that-there-were-these-25-invariable-types-the-class/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [“If you want a woman with a tight little kitty, the find one with itty bitty titties!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/if-you-want-a-woman-with-a-tight-little-kitty-the-find-one-with-itty/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) ## 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 Apathy quotes > [If possible, I want to hear POLITICS defined without either sympathy or apathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/if-possible-i-want-to-hear-politics-defined-without-either-sympathy/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. The innkeeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/one-response-was-given-by-the-innkeeper-when-mary-and-joseph-wanted/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Try to greet troubles with apathy. Hello's are never what they used to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-swellers/try-to-greet-troubles-with-apathy-hello-s-are-never-what-they-used-to/) [The Swellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-swellers/) > [Apathy can be overcome by enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/apathy-can-be-overcome-by-enthusiasm/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [Indifference must be a crime in us, to be ranked but one degree below treachery; for deserting the commonwealth is next to betraying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/indifference-must-be-a-crime-in-us-to-be-ranked-but-one-degree-below/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [Insect politics, indifferent universe. Bang your head against the wall, but apathy is worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-henley/insect-politics-indifferent-universe-bang-your-head-against-the-wall/) [Don Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-henley/) > [“And there's a freedom in apathy, a wild, dizzying liberation on which you can almost get drunk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/and-there-s-a-freedom-in-apathy-a-wild-dizzying-liberation-on-which/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [For he who is not deaf, half a silence is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/for-he-who-is-not-deaf-half-a-silence-is-enough/) [Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/) > [“Just because a person is silent doesn’t mean there’s no message.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/just-because-a-person-is-silent-doesn-t-mean-there-s-no-message/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“If someone with a high level of authority were to ask me, "Suzy, how can we make people so incredibly stupid and apathetic, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/if-someone-with-a-high-level-of-authority-were-to-ask-me-suzy-how-can/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“It takes more than one kick in the pants to reverse a lifetime of unplanned apathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-neilan/it-takes-more-than-one-kick-in-the-pants-to-reverse-a-lifetime-of/) [Paul Neilan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-neilan/) > [“Use the apathy of your logic to solve your problems and then the passion of your soul to enjoy life after that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelos-michalopoulos/use-the-apathy-of-your-logic-to-solve-your-problems-and-then-the/) [Angelos Michalopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelos-michalopoulos/) > [“The fundamental basis by which the court’s decision might be made is, in itself, imperfect and subject to contradictions. There is very little consideration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/the-fundamental-basis-by-which-the-court-s-decision-might-be-made-is/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [“The young woman had read a good many novels, and she had seen a good many films; this education by newspaper, serial and film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-renard/the-young-woman-had-read-a-good-many-novels-and-she-had-seen-a-good/) [Maurice Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-renard/) > [Mourn not the dead that in the cool earth lie... But rather mourn the apathetic throng - The cowed and the meek - Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-chaplin/mourn-not-the-dead-that-in-the-cool-earth-lie-but-rather-mourn-the/) [Ralph Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-chaplin/) [Browse all 619 Apathy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apathy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have protracted my work till most of those whom I wished to please have sunk into the grave, and success and miscarriage are empty sounds: I therefore dismiss it with frigid tranquillity, having little to fear or hope from censure or from praise.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-have-protracted-my-work-till-most-of-those-whom-i-wished-to-please/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apathy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-have-protracted-my-work-till-most-of-those-whom-i-wished-to-please/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/samuel-johnson-50_apathy_i-have-protracted-my-work-till-most-of-t_1596730.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/samuel-johnson-50_apathy_i-have-protracted-my-work-till-most-of-t_1596730.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/samuel-johnson-50_apathy_i-have-protracted-my-work-till-most-of-t_1596730.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have protracted my work till most of those whom I wished to please have sunk into the grave, and success…” — 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": "I have protracted my work till...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-have-protracted-my-work-till-most-of-those-whom-i-wished-to-please/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-have-protracted-my-work-till-most-of-those-whom-i-wished-to-please/#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 } } ] } ```