Men have solicitude about fame; and the greater share they have of it, the more afraid they are of losing it. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A successful author is equally in danger of the diminution of his fame, whether he continues or ceases to write. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Every man has a lurking wish to appear considerable in his native place. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We have always pretensions to fame which, in our own hearts, we know to be disputable. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
An author places himself uncalled before the tribunal of criticism and solicits fame at the hazard of disgrace. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
He that pursues fame with just claims, trusts his happiness to the winds; but he that endeavors after it by false merit,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I look upon this as I did upon the Dictionary: it is all work, and my inducement to it is not love… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is more reasonable to wish for reputation while it may be enjoyed, as Anacreon calls upon his companions to give him… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A man who always talks for fame never can be pleasing. The man who talks to unburthen his mind is the man… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There are, indeed, few kinds of composition from which an author, however learned or ingenious, can hope a long continuance of fame. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
None of the projects or designs which exercise the mind of man are equally subject to obstructions and disappointments with the pursuit… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The blaze of reputation cannot be blown out, but it often dies in the socket; a very few names may be considered… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
When first the college rolls receive his name, The young enthusiast quilts his ease for fame; Through all his veins the fever… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A successful author is equally in danger of the diminution of his fame, whether he continues or ceases to write. The regard… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There is a certain race of men that either imagine it their duty, or make it their amusement, to hinder the reception… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Every man, however hopeless his pretensions may appear, has some project by which he hopes to rise to reputation; some art by… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
No cause more frequently produces bashfulness than too high an opinion of our own importance. He that imagines an assembly filled with… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Advice, as it always gives a temporary appearance of superiority, can never be very grateful, even when it is most necessary or… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To expect that the intricacies of science will be pierced by a careless glance, or the eminences of fame ascended without labour,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Those who have any intention of deviating from the beaten roads of life, and acquiring a reputation superior to names hourly swept… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The hostility perpetually exercised between one man and another, is caused by the desire of many for that which only few can… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The greatest human virtue bears no proportion to human vanity. We always think ourselves better than we are, and are generally desirous… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The mental disease of the present generation is impatience of study, contempt of the great masters of ancient wisdom, and a disposition… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Nothing detains the reader's attention more powerfully than deep involutions of distress, or sudden vicissitudes of fortune; and these might be abundantly… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is advantageous to an author that his book should be attacked as well as praised. Fame is a shuttlecock. If it… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The love of fame is a passion natural and universal, which no man, however high or mean, however wise or ignorant, was… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
When once a man has made celebrity necessary to his happiness, he has put it in the power of the weakest and… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To get a name can happen but to few. A name, even in the most commercial nation, is one of the few… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share
Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share
If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise — Samuel Johnson Copy Share
It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share
Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share
The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share
“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share
“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share
Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share
That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem — Samuel Johnson Copy Share
The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share
