That the mind of man is never satisfied with the objects immediately before it, but is always breaking away from the present moment, and losing itself in schemes of future felicity; and that we forget the proper use of the time now in our power, to provide the enjoyment of that which, perhaps, may never be granted us, has frequently remarked; and as this practice is a commodious subject of raillery to the gay, and of declamation to the serious, it has been ridiculed with all the pleasantry of wit, and exaggerated with all the amplifications of rhetoric.
– Samuel Johnson, RAMBLER, No. 2
At last reading Dr. Johnson. Even in his age the idea of cherishing the present was an ongoing struggle.
The RAMBLER essays are an excellent entry point. They’re short but heavy.
Enjoy the dates on them too, this one from Saturday, 24 March 1750.