Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The true effect of genuine politeness seems to be rather ease than pleasure. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
He that never labors may know the pains of idleness, but not the pleasures. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
His death eclipsed the gayety of nations, and impoverished the public stock of harmless pleasure. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is no less a proof of eminence to have many enemies than many friends — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Ease, a neutral state between pain and pleasure ... if it is not rising into pleasure will be falling towards pain. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Bashfulness may sometimes exclude pleasure, but seldom opens any avenue to sorrow or remorse. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one step of success to another, forming new wishes and… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Life must be filled up, and the man who is not capable of intellectual pleasures must content himself with such as his… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Attention and respect give pleasure, however late, or however useless. But they are not useless, when they are late, it is reasonable… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We owe to memory not only the increase of our knowledge, and our progress in rational inquiries, but many other intellectual pleasures — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Men, however distinguished by external accidents or intrinsick qualities, have all the same wants, the same pains, and, as far as the… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“Imitations produce pain or pleasure, not because they are mistaken for realities, but because they bring realities to mind.” — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The liberty of using harmless pleasure will not be disputed; but it is still to be examined what pleasures are harmless. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We all live upon the hope of pleasing somebody, and the pleasure of pleasing ought to be greatest, and at last always… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The gratification of curiosity rather frees us from uneasiness than confers pleasure; we are more pained by ignorance than delighted by instruction.… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There is reason to suspect, that the distinctions of mankind have more show than value, when it is found that all agree… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To see helpless infancy stretching out her hands, and pouring out her cries in testimony of dependence, without any powers to alarm… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
None but those who have learned the art of subjecting their senses as well as reason to hypothetical systems can be persuaded… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To those who have lived long together, everything heard and everything seen recalls some pleasure communicated, some benefit conferred, some petty quarrel… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
All discourse of which others cannot partake is not only an irksome usurpation of the time devoted to pleasure and entertainment, but,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Avarice is generally the last passion of those lives of which the first part has been squandered in pleasure, and the second… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To purchase Heaven has gold the power? Can gold remove the mortal hour? In life can love be bought with gold? Are… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Wine gives great pleasure; and every pleasure is of itself a good. It is a good, unless counterbalanced by evil. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Friendship may well deserve the sacrifice of pleasure, though not of conscience. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
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
I have no more pleasure in hearing a man attempting wit and failing, than in seeing a man trying to leap over… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We all live in the hope of pleasing somebody; and the pleasure of pleasing ought to be greatest, and always will be… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Life admits not of delays; when pleasure can be had, it is fit to catch it. Every hour takes away part of… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The pleasure of expecting enjoyment is often greater than that of obtaining it, and the completion of almost every wish is found… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
High people, sir, are the best; take a hundred ladies of quality, you'll find them better wives, better mothers, more willing to… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Such is the pleasure of projecting that many content themselves with a succession of visionary schemes, and wear out their allotted time… — 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
The friendship which is to be practised or expected by common mortals, must take its rise from mutual pleasure, and must end… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
No man reads a book of science from pure inclination. The books that we do read with pleasure are light compositions, which… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We are all prompted by the same motives, all deceived by the same fallacies, all animated by hope, obstructed by danger, entangled… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The luster of diamonds is invigorated by the interposition of darker bodies; the lights of a picture are created by the shades;… — 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
