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
Criticism is a study by which men grow important and formidable at very small expenses — 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
Criticism is a study by which men grow important and formidable at very small expense. He whom nature has made weak, and… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“People have now a-days, (said he,) got a strange opinion that every thing should be taught by lectures. Now, I cannot see… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Nothing has so exposed men of learning to contempt and ridicule as their ignorance of things which are known to all but… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Scarce any man becomes eminently disagreeable but by a departure from his real character, and an attempt at something for which nature… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Though it is evident, that not more than one age or people can deserve the censure of being more averse from learning… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Among the innumerable mortifications which waylay human arrogance on every side may well be reckoned our ignorance of the most common objects… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
When a language begins to teem with books, it is tending to refinement; as those who undertake to teach others must have… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Pendantry is the unseasonable ostentation of learning. It may be discovered either in the choice of a subject or in the manner… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Books are faithful repositories, which may be awhile neglected or forgotten; but when they are opened again, will again impart their instruction:… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
No man should attempt to teach others what he has never learned himself — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I am always for getting a boy forward in his learning, for that is sure good. I would let him at first… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Books, says Lord Bacon, can never teach us the use of books; the student must learn by commerce with mankind to reduce… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There is less flogging in our great schools than formerly-but then less is learned there; so what the boys get at one… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is no matter what you teach them first, any more than what leg you shall put into your breeches first. You… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is commonly supposed that the uniformity of a studious life affords no matter for narration: but the truth is, that of… — 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
When first the college rolls receive his name, The young enthusiast quilts his ease for fame; Through all his veins the fever… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Other things may be seized by might, or purchased with money, but knowledge is to be gained only by study, and study… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is wonderful what a difference learning makes upon people even in the common intercourse of life, which does not appear to… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The mental disease of the present generation is impatience of study, contempt of the great masters of ancient wisdom, and a disposition… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
That eminence of learning is not to be gained without labour, at least equal to that which any other kind of greatness… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
He that teaches us anything which we knew not before is undoubtedly to be reverenced as a master. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Study requires solitude, and solitude is a state dangerous to those who are too much accustomed to sink into themselves — 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
If a man has a science to learn he must regularly and resolutely advance. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Criticism is a study by which men grow important and formidable at very small expense. The power of invention has been conferred… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“Perhaps the excellence of aphorisms consists not so much in the expression of some rare or abstruse sentiment, as in the comprehension… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The mental disease of the present generation is impatience of study, contempt of the great masters of ancient wisdom, and a disposition… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“Nothing has more retarded the advancement of learning than the disposition of vulgar minds to ridicule and vilify what they cannot comprehend.” — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A man of sense and education should meet a suitable companion in a wife. It is a miserable thing when the conversation… — 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
What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
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 Image
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 Image
It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
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 Image
The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“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 Image
“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 Image
