Youth enters the world with very happy prejudices in her own favor. She imagines herself not only certain of accomplishing every adventure, but of obtaining those rewards which the accomplishment may deserve. She is not easily persuaded to believe that the force of merit can be resisted by obstinacy and avarice, or its luster darkened by envy and malignity.
Samuel JohnsonGo into the street, and give one man a lecture on morality, and another a shilling, and see which will respect you most.
Samuel JohnsonTo be prejudiced is always to be weak; yet there are prejudices so near to laudable that they have been often praised and are always pardoned.
Samuel JohnsonGreat abilities are not requisite for an Historian; for in historical composition, all the greatest powers of the human mind are quiescent. He has facts ready to his hand; so there is no exercise of invention. Imagination is not required in any degree; only about as much as is used in the lowest kinds of poetry. Some penetration, accuracy, and coloring, will fit a man for the task, if he can give the application which is necessary.
Samuel Johnson