As any action or posture, long continued, will distort and disfigure the limbs, so the mind likewise is crippled and contracted by… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
What a strange narrowness of mind now is that, to think the things we have not known are better than the things… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
More is learned in a public than in a private school, from emulation. There is the collision of mind with mind, or… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Good-humor is a state between gayety and unconcern,--the act or emanation of a mind at leisure to regard the gratification of another. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
As the mind must govern the hands, so in every society the man of intelligence must direct the man of labor. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The eye of the mind, like that of the body, can only extend its view to new objects, by losing sight of… — 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
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 mind is refrigerated by interruption; the thoughts are diverted from the principle subject; the reader is weary, he suspects not why;… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To fix the thoughts by writing, and subject them to frequent examinations and reviews, is the best method of enabling the mind… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The parallel circumstances and kindred images to which we readily conform our minds are, above all other writings, to be found in… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
They who have already enjoyed the crowds and noise of the great city, know their desire to return is little more than… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Since every man is obliged to promote happiness and virtue, he should be careful not to mislead unwary minds, by appearing to… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It would add much to human happiness, if an art could be taught of forgetting all of which the remembrance is at… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
That distrust which intrudes so often on your mind is a mode of melancholy, which, if it be the business of a… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
When any fit of gloominess, or perversion of mind, lays hold upon you, make it a rule not to publish it by… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
He that outlives a wife whom he has long loved, sees himself disjoined from the only mind that has the same hopes,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
At length weariness succeeds to labor, and the mind lies at ease in the contemplation of her own attainments without any desire… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A minute analysis of life at once destroys that splendor which dazzles the imagination. Whatsoever grandeur can display, or luxury enjoy, is… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The task of an author is, either to teach what is not known, or to recommend known truths by his manner of… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last; and perhaps always predominates in proportion to the strength… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We frequently fall into error and folly, not because the true principles of action are not known, but because for a time… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It has long been observed, that an atheist has no just reason for endeavouring conversions; and yet none harass those minds which… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There are occasions on which it is noble to dare to stand alone. To be pious among infidels, to be disinterested in… — 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
It is wonderful when a calculation is made, how little the mind is actually employed in the discharge of any profession. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Most minds are the slaves of external circumstances, and conform to any hand that undertakes to mould them. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To set the mind above the appetites is the end of abstinence, which one of the Fathers observes to be not a… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Nothing concentrates one's mind so much as the realization that one is going to be hanged in the morning! — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Foppery is never cured; it is the bad stamina of the mind, which, like those of the body, are never rectified; once… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
When any anxiety or gloom of the mind takes hold of you, make it a rule not to publish it by complaining;… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A generous and elevated mind is distinguished by nothing more certainly than an eminent degree of curiosity. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
No mind is much employed upon the present; recollection and anticipation fill up almost all our moments. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Presumption will be easily corrected; but timidity is a disease of the mind more obstinate and fatal. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Few moments are more pleasing than those in which the mind is concerting measures for a new undertaking. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Wine gives great pleasure, and every pleasure is of itself a good. and A man should cultivate his mind so as to… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The necessary connexion of representatives with taxes, seems to have sunk deep into many of those minds, that admit sounds, without their… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Present opportunities are neglected, and attainable good is slighted, by minds busied in extensive ranges and intent upon future advantages. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Idleness is often covered by turbulence and hurry. He that neglects his known duty and real employment naturally endeavours to crowd his… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Composition is for the most part an effort of slow diligence and steady perseverance, to which the mind is dragged by necessity… — 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
