Passage 1

　　Had Dr. Johnson written his own Life, in conformity with the opinion which he has given, that every mans life may be best written by himself; had he employed in the preservation of his own history,　5 that clearness of narration and elegance of language in which he has embalmed so many eminent persons, the world would probably have had the most perfect example of biography that was ever exhibited. But although he at different times, in a desultory manner,10 committed to writing many particulars of the progress of his mind and fortunes, he never had persevering diligence enough to form them into a regular composition. Of these memorials a few have been preserved; but the greater part was consigned by him15 to the flames, a few days before his death.

　　As I had the honour and happiness of enjoying his friendship for upwards of twenty years; as I had the scheme of writing his life constantly in view; as he was well apprised of this circumstance, and from 20 time to time obligingly satisfied my enquiries, by communicating to me the incidents of his early years; as I acquired a facility in recollecting, and was very assiduous in recording, his onversation, of which the extraordinary vigour and vivacity constituted one of 25 the first features of his character; and as I have spared no pains in obtaining materials concerning him, from every quarter where I could discover that they were to be found, and have been favoured with the most liberal communications by his friends; I flatter myself 30 that few biographers have entered upon such a work as this, with more advantages; independent of literary abilities, in which I am not vain enough to compare myself with some great names who have gone before me in this kind of writing.35 Wherever narrative is necessary to explain, connect, and supply, I furnish it to the best of my abilities; but in the chronological series of Johnsons life, which I trace as distinctly as I can, year by year, I produce, wherever it is in my power, his own minutes,40 letters, or conversation, being convinced that this mode is more lively, and will make my readers better acquainted with him, than even most of those were who actually knew him, but could know him only partially; whereas there is here an accumulation of 45 intelligence from various points, by which his character is more fully understood and illustrated. Indeed I cannot conceive a more perfect mode of writing any mans life, than not only relating all the most important events of it in their order, but 50 interweaving what he privately wrote, and said, and thought; by which mankind are enabled as it were to see him alive, and to live over each scene with him, as he actually advanced through the several stages of his life. Had his other friends been as diligent and 55 ardent as I was, he might have been almost entirely preserved. As it is, I will venture to say that he will be seen in this work more completely than any man who has ever yet lived. And he will be seen as he really was, for I 60 profess to write, not his panegyric, which must be all praise, but his Life; which, great and good as he was, must not be supposed to be entirely perfect. To be as he was, is indeed subject of panegyric enough to any man in this state of being; but in every picture there 65 should be shade as well as light, and when I delineate him without reserve, I do what he himself recommended, both by his precept and his example: If the biographer writes from personal knowledge, and makes haste to gratify the public70 curiosity, there is danger lest his interest, his fear, his gratitude, or his tenderness, overpower his fidelity, and tempt him to conceal, if not to invent. There are many who think it an act of piety to hide the faults or failings of their friends, even when they can no longer 75 suffer by their detection; we therefore see whole ranks of characters adorned with uniform panegyric, and not to be known from one another but by extrinsic and casual circumstances. If we owe regard to the memory of the dead, there is yet more respect to be paid to 80 knowledge, to virtue, and to truth.

　　Passage 1

　　Had Dr. Johnson written his own Life, in conformity with the opinion which he has given, that every mans life may be best written by himself; had he employed in the preservation of his own history,　5 that clearness of narration and elegance of language in which he has embalmed so many eminent persons, the world would probably have had the most perfect example of biography that was ever exhibited. But although he at different times, in a desultory manner,10 committed to writing many particulars of the progress of his mind and fortunes, he never had persevering diligence enough to form them into a regular composition. Of these memorials a few have been preserved; but the greater part was consigned by him15 to the flames, a few days before his death.

　　As I had the honour and happiness of enjoying his friendship for upwards of twenty years; as I had the scheme of writing his life constantly in view; as he was well apprised of this circumstance, and from 20 time to time obligingly satisfied my enquiries, by communicating to me the incidents of his early years; as I acquired a facility in recollecting, and was very assiduous in recording, his onversation, of which the extraordinary vigour and vivacity constituted one of 25 the first features of his character; and as I have spared no pains in obtaining materials concerning him, from every quarter where I could discover that they were to be found, and have been favoured with the most liberal communications by his friends; I flatter myself 30 that few biographers have entered upon such a work as this, with more advantages; independent of literary abilities, in which I am not vain enough to compare myself with some great names who have gone before me in this kind of writing.35 Wherever narrative is necessary to explain, connect, and supply, I furnish it to the best of my abilities; but in the chronological series of Johnsons life, which I trace as distinctly as I can, year by year, I produce, wherever it is in my power, his own minutes,40 letters, or conversation, being convinced that this mode is more lively, and will make my readers better acquainted with him, than even most of those were who actually knew him, but could know him only partially; whereas there is here an accumulation of 45 intelligence from various points, by which his character is more fully understood and illustrated. Indeed I cannot conceive a more perfect mode of writing any mans life, than not only relating all the most important events of it in their order, but 50 interweaving what he privately wrote, and said, and thought; by which mankind are enabled as it were to see him alive, and to live over each scene with him, as he actually advanced through the several stages of his life. Had his other friends been as diligent and 55 ardent as I was, he might have been almost entirely preserved. As it is, I will venture to say that he will be seen in this work more completely than any man who has ever yet lived. And he will be seen as he really was, for I 60 profess to write, not his panegyric, which must be all praise, but his Life; which, great and good as he was, must not be supposed to be entirely perfect. To be as he was, is indeed subject of panegyric enough to any man in this state of being; but in every picture there 65 should be shade as well as light, and when I delineate him without reserve, I do what he himself recommended, both by his precept and his example: If the biographer writes from personal knowledge, and makes haste to gratify the public70 curiosity, there is danger lest his interest, his fear, his gratitude, or his tenderness, overpower his fidelity, and tempt him to conceal, if not to invent. There are many who think it an act of piety to hide the faults or failings of their friends, even when they can no longer 75 suffer by their detection; we therefore see whole ranks of characters adorned with uniform panegyric, and not to be known from one another but by extrinsic and casual circumstances. If we owe regard to the memory of the dead, there is yet more respect to be paid to 80 knowledge, to virtue, and to truth.