Sir, you must not neglect doing a thing immediately good from fear of remote evil; -from fear of its being abused. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“Do not disturb your mind,” said Imlac, “with other hopes or fears than reason may suggest; if you are pleased with the… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Fear is implanted in us as a preservative from evil but its duty, like that of other passions, is not to overbear… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“APOSIOPESIS (APOSIOPE'SIS) n.s.[ from after, and rixp to be silent.] A form of speech, by which the speaker, through some affection, as… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I deny the lawfulness of telling a lie to a sick man for fear of alarming him; you have no business with… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
In life's last scene what prodigies surprise, Fears of the brave, and follies of the wise! From Marlborough's eyes the streams of… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
He that pursues fame with just claims, trusts his happiness to the winds; but he that endeavors after it by false merit,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The mind is seldom quickened to very vigorous operations but by pain, or the dread of pain. We do not disturb ourselves… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“If the changes that we fear be thus irresistible, what remains but to acquiesce with silence, as in the other insurmountable distresses… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
But it is evident, that these bursts of universal distress are more dreaded than felt; thousands and ten thousands flourish in youth,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The mind is seldom quickened to very vigorous operations but by pain, or the dread of pain — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
But though it cannot be reasonable not to gain happiness for fear of losing it, yet it must be confessed, that in… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is observed of gold, by an old epigrammatist, that to have it is to be in fear, and to want it… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It ought to be the first endeavour of a writer to distinguish nature from custom; or that which is established because it… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The disturbers of happiness are our desires, our griefs, and our fears. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Men know that women are an overmatch for them, and therefore they choose the weakest or the most ignorant. If they did… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The disturbers of our happiness, in this world, are our desires, our griefs, and our fears. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There is little peace or comfort in life if we are always anxious as to future events. He that worries himself with… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
But the greater, far the greater number of those who rave and rail (against the government), and inquire and accuse, neither suspect… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To scatter praise or blame without regard to justice is to destroy the distinction of good and evil. Many have no other… — 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
