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John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.

4059 Samuel Johnson 1709-1784 John Bartlett

 
NUMBER:4059
AUTHOR:Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
QUOTATION:Hell is paved with good intentions. 1
ATTRIBUTION:Life of Johnson (Boswell). 2 Vol. v. Chap. ix. 1775.
 
Note 1.
See Herbert, Quotation 21.

Do not be troubled by Saint Bernard’s saying that hell is full of good intentions and wills.—Francis de Sales: Spiritual Letters. Letter xii. (Translated by the author of “A Dominican Artist.”) 1605. [back]
Note 2.
From the London edition, 10 volumes, 1835.

Dr. Johnson, it is said, when he first heard of Boswell’s intention to write a life of him, announced, with decision enough, that if he thought Boswell really meant to write his life he would prevent it by taking Boswell’s!Thomas Carlyle: Miscellanies, Jean Paul Frederic Richter. [back]