Paraphrasing Samuel Johnson --

From the inroduction, p. xvii, Everyman's Library, Johnson and Boswell:

How would you interpret this paragraph written by Samuel Johnson: Whatever withdraws us from the power of our senses; whatever makes the past, the distant, or the future predominate over the present, advances us in the dignity of thinking begins. Far from me and from my friends, be such frigid philosophy as ay conduct us indifferent and unmoved over any groud which has been dignified by wisdom, bravery, or virtue. That man is little to be envied, whose patiotism would not gain force upon the plain of Marathon, or whose peity would ot grow warmer among the ruins of Iona.

 

Modern paraphrase: Anything that lifts our minds above the immediate pull of our senses—anything that lets the past, the far-off, or the future outweigh the present—raises us toward the dignity of true thought. Let me and my friends never be so coldly rational that we could walk, indifferent and unmoved, over places hallowed by wisdom, courage, or virtue. A person deserves little admiration whose patriotism is not stirred on the plain of Marathon, or whose piety does not deepen among the ruins of Iona.

Explaation, plain language:

“Whatever withdraws us from the power of our senses…” 
Johnson says that true thinking begins when we rise above immediate, physical sensations and let memory, imagination, and reflection guide us. 

He rejects a “frigid philosophy.” He doesn’t want a cold, emotionless outlook that treats historical or sacred places as ordinary ground. 

Great places should move us. A truly appreciative mind should feel stirred:
Marathon = site of the famous battle where Athenians resisted Persian invasion; symbol of courage and freedom. 

Iona = an early center of Christian learning and spirituality in Scotland. 

His point: A person who feels nothing in such places is missing an essential human response—patriotism, reverence, imagination, connection to history.

In essence

Johnson is saying:

A mature mind should be capable of rising above the senses, and a worthy heart should be moved by places where great human deeds or spiritual acts occurred.