That observation which is called knowledge of the world will be found much more frequently to make men cunning than good. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“There is nothing so minute or inconsiderable that I would not rather know it than not know it.” — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
If useless thoughts could be expelled from the mind, all the valuable parts of our knowledge would more frequently recur. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Those whose abilities or knowledge incline them most to deviate from the general round of life are recalled from eccentricity by the… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“Ignorance, when voluntary, is criminal, and a man may be properly charged with that evil which he neglected or refused to learn… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Knowledge always desires increase, it is like fire, which must first be kindled by some external agent, but which will afterwards propagate… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Leisure and curiosity might soon make great advances in useful knowledge, were they not diverted by minute emulation and laborious trifles. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The number of such as live without the ardour of inquiry is very small, though many content themselves with cheap amusements, and… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it. When we… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To understand the works of celebrated authors, to comprehend their systems, and retain their reasonings, is a task more than equal to… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Genius, that power which constitutes a poet; that quality without which judgment is cold, and knowledge is inert; that energy which collects,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Mankind have a great aversion to intellectual labor; but even supposing knowledge to be easily attainable, more people would be content to… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Vulgar and inactive minds confound familiarity with knowledge, and conceive themselves informed of the whole nature of things, when they are shown… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Wine gives a man nothing. It neither gives him knowledge nor wit; it only animates a man, and enables him to bring… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Learn the leading precognita of all things-no need to turn over leaf by leaf, but grasp the trunk hard and you will… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I am not able to instruct you. I can only tell that I have chosen wrong. I have passed my time in… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I am far from any intention to limit curiosity, or confine the labours of learning to arts of immediate and necessary use.… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Even those to whom Providence has allotted greater strength of understanding, can expect only to improve a single science. In every other… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Books have always a secret influence on the understanding; we cannot at pleasure obliterate ideas; he that reads books of science, thogh… — 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
