The first years of man must make provision for the last.

You cannot, by all the lecturing in the world, enable a man to make a shoe.

— Samuel Johnson

In proportion as our cares are employed upon the future, they are abstracted from the present, from the only time which we can call…

— Samuel Johnson

A decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization.

— Samuel Johnson

There are goods so opposed that we cannot seize both, but, by too much prudence, may pass between them at too great a distance…

— Samuel Johnson

Prudence operates on life in the same manner as rule of composition; it produces vigilance rather than elevation; rather prevents loss than procures advantage;…

— Samuel Johnson

The business of the biographer is often to pass slightly over those performances and incidents which produce vulgar greatness, to lead the thoughts into…

— Samuel Johnson

Those authors are to be read at schools that supply most axioms of prudence.

— Samuel Johnson

It is not from reason and prudence that people marry, but from inclination.

— Samuel Johnson

When desperate ills demand a speedy cure, Distrust is cowardice, and prudence folly.

— Samuel Johnson

Frugality may be termed the daughter of Prudence, the sister of Temperance, and the parent of Liberty.

— Samuel Johnson

It was said of Euripides, that every verse was a precept; and it may be said of Shakespeare, that from his works may be…

— Samuel Johnson

The great end of prudence is to give cheerfulness to those hours which splendour cannot gild, and acclamation cannot exhilarate; those soft intervals of…

— Samuel Johnson

Some read for style, and some for argument: one has little care about the sentiment, he observes only how it is expressed; another regards…

— Samuel Johnson

Prudence is an attitude that keeps life safe, but does not often make it happy.

— Samuel Johnson

Every ten years a man should give himself a good kick in the pants.

— Edward Steichen