’There is nothing more likely to betray a man into absurdity than condescension; when he seems to suppose his understanding too powerful for his company.’

’Having asked Mr. Langton if his father and mother had sat for their pictures, which he thought it right for each generation of a family to do, and being told they had opposed it, he said, “Sir, among the anfractuosities of the human mind, I know not if it may not be one, that there is a superstitious reluctance to sit for a picture."’

’John Gilbert Cooper related, that soon after the publication of his Dictionary, Garrick being asked by Johnson what people said of it, told him, that among other animadversions, it was objected that he cited authorities which were beneath the dignity of such a work, and mentioned Richardson.  “Nay, (said Johnson,) I have done worse than that:  I have cited thee, David."’

’When in good humour he would talk of his own writings with a wonderful frankness and candour, and would even criticise them with the closest severity.  One day, having read over one of his Ramblers, Mr. Langton asked him, how he liked that paper; he shook his head, and answered, “too wordy.”  At another time, when one was reading his tragedy of Irene to a company at a house in the country, he left the room; and somebody having asked him the reason of this, he replied, “Sir, I thought it had been better."’

’He related, that he had once in a dream a contest of wit with some other person, and that he was very much mortified by imagining that his opponent had the better of him.  “Now, (said he,) one may mark here the effect of sleep in weakening the power of reflection; for had not my judgement failed me, I should have seen, that the wit of this supposed antagonist, by whose superiority I felt myself depressed, was as much furnished by me, as that which I thought I had been uttering in my own character."’

’Of Sir Joshua Reynolds, he said, “Sir, I know no man who has passed through life with more observation than Reynolds."’

’He repeated to Mr. Langton, with great energy, in the Greek, our saviour’s gracious expression concerning the forgiveness of Mary Magdalen, ’[Greek text omitted].  “Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”  He said, “the manner of this dismission is exceedingly affecting."’

’Talking of the Farce of High Life below Stairs, he said, “Here is a Farce, which is really very diverting when you see it acted; and yet one may read it, and not know that one has been reading any thing at all."’

’He used at one time to go occasionally to the green room of Drury-lane Theatre, where he was much regarded by the players, and was very easy and facetious with them.  He had a very high opinion of Mrs. Clive’s comick powers, and conversed more with her than with any of them.  He said, “Clive, Sir, is a good thing to sit by; she always understands what you say.”  And she said of him, “I love to sit by Dr. Johnson; he always entertains me.”  One night, when The Recruiting Officer was acted, he said to Mr. Holland, who had been expressing an apprehension that Dr. Johnson would disdain the works of Farquhar; “No, Sir, I think Farquhar a man whose writings have considerable merit."’