Boswell: Sir, what is poetry?
Johnson: Why Sir, it is much easier to say what it is not. We all know what light is; but it is not easy to tell what it is.


James Boswell Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) 12 April 1776

Samuel Johnson Quotes

Boswell: Sir, what is poetry? Johnson: Why Sir, it is much easier to say what it is not. We all know what light is; but it is not easy to tell what...

Boswell: Sir, what is poetry? Johnson: Why Sir, it is much easier to say what it is not. We all know what light is; but it is not easy to tell what...

Boswell: Sir, what is poetry? Johnson: Why Sir, it is much easier to say what it is not. We all know what light is; but it is not easy to tell what...

Boswell: Sir, what is poetry? Johnson: Why Sir, it is much easier to say what it is not. We all know what light is; but it is not easy to tell what...