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August 12, 2009

Dr. Johnson on bias in the media circa 1791:
'The value of every story depends on its being true. A story is a picture either of an individual or of human nature in general: if it be false, it is a picture of nothing. For instance: suppose a man should tell that Johnson, before setting out for Italy, as he had to cross the Alps, sat down to make himself wings. This many people would believe; but it would be a picture of nothing.'

[As you may have noticed, I am making my way through this masterpiece for the third time and recommend it. It will improve your writing and your understanding. As Johnson would say, "Depend upon it, Sir."]

Posted by Vanderleun at August 12, 2009 11:43 PM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.

Your Say

I've read the Journal of a Tour of the Hebrides a couple of times. Got it in a used bookstore in hardcover - pre-war, IIRC. (I'm not home to check on it.) Johnson was hard on his hosts, but then again, if you didn't want his opinion, you shouldn't have asked.

Posted by: Mikey NTH at August 13, 2009 6:18 PM

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