"I do not see that I could make a book upon Italy; yet I should be glad to get two hundred pounds, or five hundred pounds, by such a work." This shewed both that a journal of his Tour upon the Continent was not wholly out of his contemplation, and that he uniformly adhered to that strange opinion, which his indolent disposition made him utter: "No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money." Numerous instances to refute this will occur to all who are versed in the history of Literature.

This quote from "The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D." by James Boswell highlights Johnson’s candid pragmatism about writing. When contemplating authoring a travel book about Italy, Johnson humorously admits his primary motivation: financial gain. The statement "No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money" underscores his belief in the practicality of remunerated writing. Johnson's view contrasts with the romanticized notion of writing as an art form pursued solely for passion or expression. By suggesting that writing should be a paid endeavor, Johnson challenges the sentiment of art for art’s sake, which resonates with the broader debates about the intersection of art and commerce. Despite this, Boswell notes that Johnson’s opinion is debatable, as many write for reasons beyond monetary reward. This reflects the complexity of authorial motivations throughout literary history.