Tired of London, Tired of Life
A famous ‘I love London’ quote which I have heard many times to mention is ‘Tired of London, Tired of Life’ which was said by the celebrated English author Samuel Johnson. Way back on the 20 of September, 1777, Johnson who was a man that hated to spend time alone, said his immortal words during one of his many discussions with his good friend the Scottish lawyer and writer James Boswell about life in London.
The full ‘Tired of London, Tired of Life’ quote, is as follows:
“Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”
Samuel Johnson
During their discussion the two men were debating whether or not Boswell’s affection for London would diminish should he chose to live there on a permanent basis, as opposed to visiting occasionally like he did. I can most definitely relate to that. I use to visit London on a regular basis before I decided to set up home here (my wife was a Londoner, hence the regular visits) … so I can see things from both sides.
Everyday I walk through the streets of London and encounter people…thousands of people who clearly have lost their zest for life in London. They have become jaded by travelling on jam packed tubes and buses, having to endure the constant hustle, bustle and aggressiveness of life in an overcrowded and expensive city has drained them. I can see it in their faces, in their eyes as they push past me on the street, push past me on the underground desperate to get on the next tube or to escape from the fiery hell, in the shops as they impatiently queue up in a never ending hurry, they are like a bomb waiting to explode! Such people need to slow down, then stop and smell the roses!
London for some has become like a prison. Such people have become Tired of London and Tired of Life. I personally could never see myself living in London for the rest of my life, there is more to life than just London that is for sure…sometimes people need to be brave and move onwards and upwards. I know how life… job, family and housing can blindly trap people!
Samuel Johnson hit the nail on the head when he uttered his famous words ‘Tired of London, Tired of Life.’ If you have become jaded by life in the Big City, in London Town you either need to escape or start to appreciate the good things that are all around you…
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Yes you can be tired of anything anywhere. It’s a personal choice and you’ve chosen to be happy no matter where you are. I like that.
Have a terrific day.
Comedy Plus´s last [type] ..Wednesdays Question #31
In the 80′s I lived and worked in London for 8 years which was long enough for me. I have never regretted my time there or moving back home to Edinburgh. Great blog by the way.
Very true in what you say. I will never tire of visiting London, yet I would never want to live there. great in small doses.
Kev´s last [type] ..Stephan Skogh
Tired of London, Tired of Life; it seems like the people to whom this quote applies are those who have lost their passion for life, that infectious fervor that incites such a fire within oneself, the desire to discover and to experience. London is one of the most beautiful, mysterious cities in the world, but even that can become too much of a good thing…
Comedy Plus, indeed it is…
Alex, I don’t know if I will last 8 years in London, but never say never. I have been to Edinburgh many times, a great place to live for sure…
Jules, too much of a good thing…I know what you mean. I can see how people can get tired of London, when they are stuck on a jam packed over priced tube, or taking 90 minutes to get to work, or bad manners everywhere…
Next time I’m stuck on a delayed tube AGAIN. I will repeat those words as a mantra to remind myself.
London Mick, it could well work!
Only thing’s which I’m tired of in London are Boris, TFL and the cost of my rent!
June, I feel your pain!