Samuel Johnson Quotes

Every man who attacks my belief, diminishes in some degree my confidence in it, and therefore makes me uneasy; and I am angry with him who makes me uneasy.

No man, however enslaved to his appetites, or hurried by his passions, can, while he preserves his intellects unimpaired, please himself with promoting the corruption of others. He whose merit has enlarged his influence would surely wish to exert it for the benefit of mankind. Yet such will be the effect of his reputation, while he suffers himself to indulge in any favourite fault, that they who have no hope to reach his excellence will catch at his failings, and his virtues will be cited to justify the copiers of his vices.

Smoking is a shocking thing - blowing smoke out of our mouths into other people's mouths, eyes, and noses, and having the same thing done to us.

Fear naturally quickens the flight of guilt.

Complaints are vain; we will try to. do better another time. To-morrow and to-morrow. A few designs and a few failures, and the time of designing is past.

Among the calamities of war may be numbered the diminution of the love of truth, by the falsehoods which interest dictates, and credulity encourages.

In a man's letters you know, Madam, his soul lies naked, his letters are only the mirror of his breast, whatever passes within him is shown undisguised in its natural process. Nothing is inverted, nothing distorted, you see systems in their elements, you discover actions in their motives.

In the bottle discontent seeks for comfort, cowardice for courage, and bashfulness for confidence.

In order that all men might be taught to speak truth, it is necessary that all likewise should learn to hear it.

The most useful truths are always universal, and unconnected with accidents and customs.

No man likes to live under the eye of perpetual disapprobation.

When once the forms of civility are violated, there remains little hope of return to kindness or decency.

When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.

Politeness is fictitious benevolence. Depend upon it, the want of it never fails to produce something disagreeable to one or other.

A man is very apt to complain of the ingratitude of those who have risen far above him.

Happiness is enjoyed only in proportion as it is known; and such is the state or folly of man, that it is known only by experience of its contrary.

Since every man is obliged to promote happiness and virtue, he should be careful not to mislead unwary minds, by appearing to set too high a value upon things by which no real excellence is conferred.

Books have always a secret influence on the understanding; we cannot at pleasure obliterate ideas; he that reads books of science, thogh without any fixed desire of improvement, will grow more knowing.

To preserve health is a moral and religious duty: for health is the basis of all social virtues; and we can be useful no longer than while we are well.

Much is due to those who first broke the way to knowledge, and left only to their successors the task of smoothing it.

If a man has a science to learn he must regularly and resolutely advance.

He that accepts protection, stipulates obedience. We have always protected the Americans; we may therefore subject them to government.

I have found men to be more kind than I expected, and less just.

In his comic scenes, Shakespeare seems to produce, without labor, what no labor can improve.

If pleasure was not followed by pain, who would forbear it?

Books like friends, should be few and well-chosen.

Commerce can never be at a stop while one man wants what another can supply; and credit will never be denied, while it is likely to be repaid with profit.

I never desire to converse with a man who has written more than he has read.

Whoever desires, for his writings or himself, what none can reasonably contemn, the favour of mankind, must add grace to strength, and make his thoughts agreeable as well as useful. Many complain of neglect who never tried to attract regard.

Economy is the parent of integrity, of liberty, and of ease, and the beauteous sister of temperance, of cheerfulness and health.

Nothing is more common than for men to make partial and absurd distinctions between vices of equal enormity, and to observe some of the divine commands with great scrupulousness, while they violate others, equally important, without any concern, or the least apparent conciousness of guilt. Alas, it is only wisdom which perceives this tragedy.

He that voluntarily continues in ignorance, is guilty of all the crimes which ignorance produces.

The eye of the mind, like that of the body, can only extend its view to new objects, by losing sight of those which are now before it.

Life is but short; no time can be afforded but for the indulgence of real sorry, or contests upon questions seriously momentous. Let us not throw away any of our days upon useless resentment, or contend who shall hold out longest in stubborn malignity. It is best not to be angry; and best, in the next place, to be quickly reconciled.

If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man, sir, should keep his friendship in a constant repair.

People in general do not willingly read if they have anything else to amuse them.

Cunning differs from wisdom as twilight from open day.

There are certain topicks which are never exhausted. Of some images and sentiments the mind of man may be said to be enamoured; it meets them, however often they occur, with the same ardour which a lover feels at the sight of his mistress, and parts from them with the same regret when they can no longer be enjoyed.

No one is much pleased with a companion who does not increase, in some respect, their fondness for themselves.

We must consider how very little history there is--I mean real, authentic history. That certain kings reigned and certain battles were fought, we can depend upon as true; but all the coloring, all the philosophy, of history is conjecture.

The great source of pleasure is variety.

You raise your voice when you should reinforce your argument.

Men more frequently require to be reminded than informed.

He who fails to please in his salutation and address is at once rejected, and never obtains an opportunity of showing his latest excellences or essential qualities.

Abuse is often of service. There is nothing so dangerous to an author as silence.

He that fails in his endeavors after wealth or power will not long retain either honesty or courage.

A man may be so much of everything that he is nothing of anything.

Nothing is little to him that feels it with great sensibility.