Pleasure is very seldom found where it is sought; our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It was his peculiar happiness that he scarcely ever found a stranger whom he did not leave a friend; but it must… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The fiction of happiness is propagated by every tongue and confirmed by every look till at last all profess the joy which… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition, the end to which every enterprise and labor tends, and… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Attainment is followed by neglect, possession by disgust, and the malicious remark of the Greek epigrammatist on marriage may be applied to… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“As soon as I enter the door of a tavern, I experience oblivion of care, and a freedom from solicitude. There is… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
As I know more of mankind I expect less of them, and am ready now to call a man a good man… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Spring is the season of gaiety, and winter of terror; in spring the heart of tranquility dances to the melody of the… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is better that some should be unhappy rather than that none should be happy, which would be the case in a… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Hope itself is a species of happiness, and, perhaps, the chief happiness which this world affords; but, like all other pleasures immoderately… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To have the management of the mind is a great art, and it may be attained in a considerable degree by experience… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The really happy woman is the one who can enjoy the scenery when she has to take a detour. Happiness is not… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It may be observed in general that the future is purchased by the present. It is not possible to secure distant or… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There is nothing more dreadful to an author than neglect; compared with which reproach, hatred, and opposition are names of happiness; yet… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I fly from pleasure," said the prince, "because pleasure has ceased to please; I am lonely because I am miserable, and am… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Though the wisdom or virtue of one can very rarely make many happy, the folly or vice of one man often make… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There is nothing, Sir, too little for so little a creature as man. It is by studying little things that we attain… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We are long before we are convinced that happiness is never to be found, and each believes it possessed by others, to… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
But though it cannot be reasonable not to gain happiness for fear of losing it, yet it must be confessed, that in… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Among many parallels which men of imagination have drawn between the natural and moral state of the world, it has been observed… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I would not give half a guinea to live under one form of government other than another. It is of no moment… — 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
