Samuel Johnson Quotes
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I remember very well, when I was at Oxford, an old gentleman said to me, 'Young man, ply your book diligently now, and acquire a stock of knowledge; for when years come upon you, you will find that poring upon books will be but an irksome task.'
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A frame of adamant, a soul of fire,No dangers fright him, and no labors tire.
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Hell is paved with good intentions.
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Johnson said that he could repeat a complete chapter of 'The Natural History of Iceland' from the Danish of Horrebow, the whole of which was exactly thus: 'There are no snakes to be met with throughout the whole island.' 62 Chap. lxxii.
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A wise man is cured of ambition by ambition itself; his aim is so exalted that riches, office, fortune and favour cannot satisfy him.
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Wine gives a man nothing... it only puts in motion what had been locked up in frost.
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Wickedness is always easier than virtue; for it takes the short cut to everything.
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What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.
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Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not.
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The future is purchased by the present.
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Blown about with every wind of criticism.
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The atrocious crime of being a young man, which the honourable gentleman has with such spirit and decency charged upon me, I shall neither attempt to palliate nor deny; but content myself with wishing that I may be one of those whose follies may cease with their youth, and not of that number who are ignorant in spite of experience.
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All censure of a man's self is oblique praise. It is in order to shew how much he can spare.
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The insolence of wealth will creep out.
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The trappings of a monarchy would set up an ordinary commonwealth.
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Nature has given women so much power that the law has very wisely given them little.
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Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.
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There are some sluggish men who are improved by drinking; as there are fruits that are not good until they are rotten.
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The only end of writing is to enable the readers better to enjoy life, or better to endure it.
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Let me rejoice in the light which Thou hast imparted; let me serve Thee with active zeal, humbled confidence, and wait with patient expectation for the time in which the soul which Thou receivest shall be satisfied with knowledge.
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All theory is against freedom of the will; all experience for it.
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As with my hat upon my headI walk'd along the Strand,I there did meet another manWith his hat in his hand.
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From the middle of life onward, only he remains vitally alive who is ready to die with life.
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What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence.