--- title: "9 Decay Quotes By Samuel Johnson" description: "9 Decay quotes by Samuel Johnson. Plus more from Samuel Johnson and more Decay sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/samuel-johnson-50_age_an-age-that-melts-in-unperceiv-d-decay-a_619380.png" --- > [An age that melts in unperceiv'd decay, And glides in modest innocence away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/an-age-that-melts-in-unperceiv-d-decay-and-glides-in-modest-innocence/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/samuel-johnson-50_age_an-age-that-melts-in-unperceiv-d-decay-a_619380.png) > [The most fatal disease of friendship is gradual decay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-most-fatal-disease-of-friendship-is-gradual-decay/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/samuel-johnson-50_decay_the-most-fatal-disease-of-friendship-is_2052415.png) > [Then with no throbs of fiery pain, No cold gradations of decay, Death broke at once the vital chain, And freed his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/then-with-no-throbs-of-fiery-pain-no-cold-gradations-of-decay-death/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/230/samuel-johnson-50_broke_then-with-no-throbs-of-fiery-pain-no-col_229183.png) > [Year chases year, decay pursues decay, Still drops some joy from with'ring life away; New forms arise, and diff'rent views engage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/year-chases-year-decay-pursues-decay-still-drops-some-joy-from-with/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f6/samuel-johnson-50_arise_year-chases-year-decay-pursues-decay-sti_2401795.png) > [The most fatal disease of friendship is gradual decay, or dislike hourly increased by causes too slender for complaint, and too numerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-most-fatal-disease-of-friendship-is-gradual-decay-or-dislike/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/samuel-johnson-50_causes_the-most-fatal-disease-of-friendship-is_1549950.png) > [But grant, the virtues of a temp'rate prime Bless with an age exempt from scorn or crime; An age that melts with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/but-grant-the-virtues-of-a-temp-rate-prime-bless-with-an-age-exempt/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/653/samuel-johnson-50_age_but-grant-the-virtues-of-a-temp-rate-pri_1812453.png) > [I am not yet so lost in lexicography, as to forget that words are the daughters of the earth, and that things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-am-not-yet-so-lost-in-lexicography-as-to-forget-that-words-are-the/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/samuel-johnson-50_children_i-am-not-yet-so-lost-in-lexicography-as_1544060.jpg) > [The prosperity of a people is proportionate to the number of hands and minds usefully employed. To the community, sedition is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-prosperity-of-a-people-is-proportionate-to-the-number-of-hands/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/865/samuel-johnson-50_acquire_the-prosperity-of-a-people-is-proportion_2529702.jpg) > [Yet reason frowns in war's unequal game, Where wasted nations raise a single name; And mortgag'd states their grandsire's wreaths regret, From…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/yet-reason-frowns-in-war-s-unequal-game-where-wasted-nations-raise-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3b/samuel-johnson-50_age_yet-reason-frowns-in-war-s-unequal-game_2444417.png) ## Other authors on Decay ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decay/samuel-johnson/#itemlist", "name": "9 Decay Quotes By Samuel Johnson", "numberOfItems": 9, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "An age that melts in unperceiv'd decay, And glides in modest innocence away.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/an-age-that-melts-in-unperceiv-d-decay-and-glides-in-modest-innocence/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/samuel-johnson-50_age_an-age-that-melts-in-unperceiv-d-decay-a_619380.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/samuel-johnson-50_age_an-age-that-melts-in-unperceiv-d-decay-a_619380.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/samuel-johnson-50_age_an-age-that-melts-in-unperceiv-d-decay-a_619380.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“An age that melts in unperceiv'd decay, And glides in modest innocence away.” — Samuel Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most fatal disease of friendship is gradual decay.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-most-fatal-disease-of-friendship-is-gradual-decay/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/samuel-johnson-50_decay_the-most-fatal-disease-of-friendship-is_2052415.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/samuel-johnson-50_decay_the-most-fatal-disease-of-friendship-is_2052415.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/samuel-johnson-50_decay_the-most-fatal-disease-of-friendship-is_2052415.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most fatal disease of friendship is gradual decay.” — Samuel Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Then with no throbs of fiery pain, No cold gradations of decay, Death broke at once the vital chain, And freed his soul the nearest way.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/then-with-no-throbs-of-fiery-pain-no-cold-gradations-of-decay-death/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/230/samuel-johnson-50_broke_then-with-no-throbs-of-fiery-pain-no-col_229183.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/230/samuel-johnson-50_broke_then-with-no-throbs-of-fiery-pain-no-col_229183.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/230/samuel-johnson-50_broke_then-with-no-throbs-of-fiery-pain-no-col_229183.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Then with no throbs of fiery pain, No cold gradations of decay, Death broke at once the vital chain, And…” — Samuel Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Year chases year, decay pursues decay, Still drops some joy from with'ring life away; 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To the community, sedition is a fever, corruption is a gangrene, and idleness is an atrophy. Whatever body or society wastes more than it acquires, must gradually decay, and every being that continues to be fed, and eases to labor, takes away something from the public stock.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-prosperity-of-a-people-is-proportionate-to-the-number-of-hands/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/865/samuel-johnson-50_acquire_the-prosperity-of-a-people-is-proportion_2529702.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/865/samuel-johnson-50_acquire_the-prosperity-of-a-people-is-proportion_2529702.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/865/samuel-johnson-50_acquire_the-prosperity-of-a-people-is-proportion_2529702.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The prosperity of a people is proportionate to the number of hands and minds usefully employed. To the…” — Samuel Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Yet reason frowns in war's unequal game, Where wasted nations raise a single name; And mortgag'd states their grandsire's wreaths regret, From age to age in everlasting debt; Wreaths which at last the dear-bought right convey To rust on medals, or on stones decay.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/yet-reason-frowns-in-war-s-unequal-game-where-wasted-nations-raise-a/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3b/samuel-johnson-50_age_yet-reason-frowns-in-war-s-unequal-game_2444417.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3b/samuel-johnson-50_age_yet-reason-frowns-in-war-s-unequal-game_2444417.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3b/samuel-johnson-50_age_yet-reason-frowns-in-war-s-unequal-game_2444417.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Yet reason frowns in war's unequal game, Where wasted nations raise a single name; And mortgag'd states…” — Samuel Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decay/samuel-johnson/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decay/samuel-johnson/", "name": "Decay Quotes by Samuel Johnson", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decay/samuel-johnson/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/samuel-johnson-50_age_an-age-that-melts-in-unperceiv-d-decay-a_619380.png" }, "description": "9 Decay quotes by Samuel Johnson. 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