Samuel Johnson Quotes
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Every state of society is as luxurious as it can be. Men always take the best they can get.
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Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes,And pause a while from learning to be wise.There mark what ills the scholar's life assail - Toil, envy, want, the patron, and the jail.
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Sir, a woman's preaching is like a dog's walking on his hinder legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all.
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When any calamity has been suffered the first thing to be remembered is, how much has been escaped.
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We are inclined to believe those whom we do not know because they have never deceived us.
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How is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of negroes?
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The law is the last result of human wisdom acting upon human experience for the benefit of the public.
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The greatest part of a writer's time is spent in reading in order to write. A man will turn over half a library to make a book.
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There is in this world no real delight (excepting those of sensuality), but exchange of ideas in conversation.
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To let friendship die away by negligence and silence, is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of this weary pilgrimage.
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Milton, Madam, was a genius that could cut a Colossus from a rock; but could not carve heads upon cherry-stones.
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The Churchyard abounds with images which find a mirror in every mind, and with sentiments to which every bosom returns an echo.
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Sir, your levellers wish to level down as far as themselves; but they cannot bear levelling up to themselves.
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Life admits not of delays; when pleasure can be had, it is fit to catch it. Every hour takes away part of the things that please us, and perhaps part of our disposition to be pleased.
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Always, Sir, set a high value on spontaneous kindness. He whose inclination prompts him to cultivate your friendship of his own accord, will love you more than one whom you have been at pains to attach to you.
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As the Spanish proverb says, 'He, who would bring home the wealth of the Indies, must carry the wealth of the Indies with him.' So it is in travelling; a man must carry knowledge with him, if he would bring home knowledge.
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There are, in every age, new errors to be rectified, and new prejudices to be opposed.
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Here's to the next insurrection of the negroes in the West Indies.
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He is not only dull himself, but the cause of dullness in others.
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Employment, sir, and hardships prevent melancholy.
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Was ever poet so trusted before?
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PATRON, n. One who countenances, supports or protects. Commonly a wretch who supports with insolence, and is repaid in flattery.
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There Poetry shall tune her sacred voice,And wake from ignorance the Western World.
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While grief is fresh, every attempt to divert only irritates. You must wait till grief be digested, and then amusement will dissipate the remains of it.