Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys PRS, MP, JPwas an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who is most famous for the diary that he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man. Pepys had no maritime experience, but he rose to be the Chief Secretary to the Admiralty under both King Charles II and King James II through patronage, hard work, and his talent for administration. His influence and reforms at the Admiralty were important in the early professionalisation of...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth23 February 1633
Thanks be to God. Since my leaving the drinking of wine, I do find myself much better, and do mind my business better, and do spend less money, and less time lost in idle company.
Strange, to see what delight we married people have to see these poor fools decoyed into our condition, every man and wife gazing and smiling at them.
Saw a wedding in the church. It was strange to see what delight we married people have to see these poor fools decoyed into our condition.
But Lord! To see the absurd nature of Englishmen, that cannot forbear laughing and jeering at everything that looks strange.
In appearance, at least, he being on all occasions glad to be at friendship with me, though we hate one another, and know it on both sides
Fight the good fight; and always call to mind that it is not you who are mortal, but this body of ours. For your true being is not discerned by perceiving your physical appearance. But 'what a man's mind is, that is what he is' not that individual human shape that we identify through our senses.
Before I went to bed, I sat up till 2 a-clock in my chamber, reading of Mr. Hooke's Microscopical Observations, the most ingenious book that I ever read in my life.
I know not how to abstain from reading.
Now public business takes up so much of my time that I must get time a Sundays or a nights to look after my own matters.
Find myself £43 worse than I was the last month ... chiefly arisen from my layings-out in clothes for myself and wife; viz., for her, about £12, and for myself, £55 or thereabouts.
Mighty proud I am that I am able to have a spare bed for my friends.
I went out to Charing Cross to see Major General Harrison hanged, drawn, and quartered; which was done there, he looking as cheerful as any man could in that condition.
The truth is, I do indulge myself a little the more in pleasure, knowing that this is the proper age of my life to do it; and, out of my observation that most men that do thrive in the world do forget to take pleasure during the time that they are getting their estate, but reserve that till they have got one, and then it is too late for them to enjoy it.
Music and woman I cannot but give way to, whatever my business is.