The Vanity of Human Wishes

by Samuel Johnson

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Genres: Poetry, Classics, Philosophy, British Literature, Fiction, Essays, 18th Century

38 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1749

About the author

People note British writer and lexicographer Samuel Johnson, known as "Doctor Johnson," for his Dictionary of the English Language (1755), for Lives of the Poets (1781), and for his series of essays, published under the titles The Rambler (1752) and The Idler (1758).

Samuel Johnson used the first consistent Universal Etymological English Dictionary , first published in 1721, of British lexicographer Nathan Bailey as a reference.

Beginning as a journalist on Grub street, this English author made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, novelist, literary critic, biographer, and editor. People described Johnson as "arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history." James Boswell subjected him to Life of Samuel Johnson , one of the most celebrated biographies in English. This biography alongside other biographies, documented behavior and mannerisms of Johnson in such detail that they informed the posthumous diagnosis of Tourette syndrome (TS), a condition unknown to 18th-century physicians. He presented a tall and robust figure, but his odd gestures and tics confused some persons on their first encounters.

Johnson attended Pembroke college, Oxford for a year before his lack of funds compelled him to leave. After working as a teacher, he moved to London, where he began to write essays for The Gentleman's Magazine. His early works include the biography The Life of Richard Savage and the poem " The Vanity of Human Wishes ." Christian morality permeated works of Johnson, a devout and compassionate man. He, a conservative Anglican, nevertheless respected persons of other denominations that demonstrated a commitment to teachings of Christ.

After nine years of work, people in 1755 published his preeminent Dictionary of the English Language, bringing him popularity and success until the completion of the Oxford English Dictionary in 1905, a century and a half later. In the following years, he published essays, an influential annotated edition of plays of William Shakespeare, and the well-read novel Rasselas . In 1763, he befriended James Boswell, with whom he later travelled to Scotland; A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland , travel narrative of Johnson, described the journey. Towards the end of his life, he produced the massive and influential Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets , which includes biographies and evaluations of 17th- and 18th-century poets.

After a series of illnesses, Johnson died on the evening; people buried his body in Westminster abbey. In the years following death, people began to recognize a lasting effect of Samuel Johnson on literary criticism even as the only great critic of English literature.

Reviews

[Steven Godin · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The needy Traveller, ferene and gay,
Walks the wild Heath, and fings his Toil away.
Does Envy feize thee? crufh'th upbraiding Joy,
Encrease his Riches and his Peace destroy,
New Fears in dire Vicissitude invade,
The rustling Brake alarms, and quiv'ring Shade,
Not Light nor Darknefs bring his pain Relief,
One shews the Plunder, and one hides the Thief"

[Tariq Fadel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't be ambitious. Don't seek power and glory. Be satisfied with what you have. If your life is miserable keep in mind that if you pray to god you'll go to heaven after you die. That's all there is in this difficult poem. It made me wonder if Samuel Jackson was employed by the ruling class to discourage rebellion.

[Chi-Chi A · Rating 1 out of 5]

HATE IT! RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN AWAY FROM ANYTHING BY SAMUEL JOHNSON.

[Holly]

Read for Year 2, Semester 2 Jonson to Johnson Module

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read this poem for maybe a half-century, and it's much better now than it was back then. It closely follows Juvenal's Satire 10, leaving out the obscene bits, updating most of the historical references, and Christianizing the religious conclusion. The basic idea is that we tend to want the wrong things in this world, for the wrong reasons. Ultimately fame, fortune, learning, beauty, bodily health, and long life are empty wishes; only virtue is important. We should pray for a healthful mind, obedient passions, an accepting will, love, patience, and faith:
With these celestial Wisdom calms the mind,
And makes the happiness she does not find.

Some examples:

Unnumbered suppliants crowd Preferment's gate,
Athirst for wealth, and burning to be great;
Delusive Fortune hears the incessant call,
They mount, they shine, evaporate, and fall.

The old man:
But unextinguished avarice still remains,
And dreaded losses aggravate his pains;
He turns, with anxious heart and crippled hands,
His bonds of debt, and mortgages of lands;
Or views his coffers with suspicious eyes,
Unlocks his gold, and counts it till he dies.

[cc · Rating 1 out of 5]

boring fell asleep in clsss

[Dinah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent, because your history is very interesting.

[Frédérique · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read these for my Literature course: Didn't understand much but with some research, it was interesting.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Johnson’s theme in this poem, his first publication using his own name, could be “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall,” or more bluntly: don’t be a bigshot, because someone is going to cut you down to size. Your wealth, your political power, your military might, your good looks, and your study and scholarship will not bring you lasting success in this life. You would be wiser to be humble and hope God will grant you something nice in the afterlife.

He starts with wealth:

But scarce observ'd the Knowing and the Bold,
Fall in the gen'ral Massacre of Gold;
Wide-wasting Pest! that rages unconfin'd,
And crouds with Crimes the Records of Mankind,
For Gold his Sword the Hireling Ruffian draws,
For Gold the hireling Judge distorts the Laws;
Wealth heap'd on Wealth, nor Truth nor Safety buys,
The Dangers gather as the Treasures rise.

And then goes on to political strife, and its violent extension war using the example of Charles XII of Sweden’s series of victories over his neighboring rivals in The Great Northern War(1700–1721) as an example of futility. Nor, Johnson argues in heroic couplets, will your physical attractiveness or sex appeal help you to do more than spark envy in your rivals before it fades with age. The same argument is used for scholarship and science, especially if it goes against the prevailing thinking of your time.

If Dreams yet flatter, once again attend,
Hear Lydiat's Life, and Galileo's End.

Don’t even pray for a long life, it might just be more disappointment. Instead, abandon yourself to God and prayer.

Implore his Aid, in his Decisions rest,
Secure whate'er he gives, he gives the best.
Yet with the Sense of sacred Presence prest,
When strong Devotion fills thy glowing Breast,
Pour forth thy Fervours for a healthful Mind,
Obedient Passions, and a Will resign'd;
For Love, which scarce collective Man can fill;
For Patience sov'reign o'er transmuted Ill;
For Faith, that panting for a happier Seat,
Thinks Death kind Nature's Signal of Retreat:
These Goods for Man the Laws of Heav'n ordain,
These Goods he grants, who grants the Pow'r to gain;
With these celestial Wisdom calms the Mind,
And makes the Happiness she does not find.

[Lolá · Rating 3 out of 5]

Samuel Johnson has reinforced in these lines that death is the endgame to life and no matter how much we aspire to something it's all efforts in futility because our assets all end here on earth. Knowing this, does it mean we should not aspire to greatness and be content in mediocrity?

[Caomhghain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A monumental work with a style which might best be termed splendid. Very 'quotable' on occasion too.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This poem isn't nearly as readable as Johnson's other works. It was a bit clunky and dated. It's a neat piece of historical literature but it doesn't have as much to offer a modern reader.

[jaidyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Fnaught · Rating 2 out of 5]

Antipope.

[Will MacLellan · Rating 5 out of 5]

greed or desire sucks!

[Bread · Rating 4 out of 5]

this poem discusses the folly of human ambition, focusing in turn on the statesman, the scholar, the conqueror, the man in possession of long life, then youth, then beauty. ultimately it is only otherworldly faith that can provide true happiness. i find johnsons conclusion a little flippant & in the final analysis inadequate, yet he does provide striking descriptions of futile ambition & human goods come to naught, particularly with charles XII