From Boswell's _Life of Johnson_, entry for April 19, 1773 (Courtesy of gutenberg.org): Mr. Elphinston talked of a new book that was much admired, and asked Dr

From Boswell's _Life of Johnson_, entry for April 19, 1773 (Courtesy of gutenberg.org): Mr. Elphinston talked of a new book that was much admired, and asked Dr. Johnson if he had read it. JOHNSON. 'I have looked into it.' 'What (said Elphinston,) have you not read it through?' Johnson, offended at being thus pressed, and so obliged to own his cursory mode of reading, answered tartly, 'No, Sir, do _you_ read books _through_?