If we estimate dignity by immediate usefulness, agriculture is undoubtedly the first and noblest science. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
When any calamity is suffered, the first thing to be remembered is, how much has been escaped. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Much is due to those who first broke the way to knowledge, and left only to their successors the task of smoothing… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The great effect of friendship is beneficence, yet by the first act of uncommon kindness it is endangered. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Criticism, as it was first instituted by Aristotle, was meant as a standard of judging well. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
He that would be superior to external influences must first become superior to his own passions. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
When a man marries a widow his jealousies revert to the past: no man is as good as his wife says her… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
In discussing these exceptions from the course of nature, the first question is, whether the fact be justly stated. That which is… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There lurks, perhaps, in every human heart a desire of distinction, which inclines every man first to hope, and then to believe,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is good sense applied with diligence to what was at first a mere accident, and which by great application grew to… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It requires but little acquaintance with the heart to know that woman's first wish is to be handsome; and that, consequently, the… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The truth is that the spectators are always in their senses, and know, from the first act to the last, that the… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
If a madman were to come into this room with a stick in his hand, no doubt we should pity the state… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Flattery pleases very generally. In the first place, the flatterer may think what he says to be true; but, in the second… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Every government is perpetually degenerating towards corruption, from which it must be rescued at certain periods by the resuscitation of its first… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
If an author be supposed to involve his thoughts in voluntary obscurity, and to obstruct, by unnecessary difficulties, a mind eager in… — 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
But to the particular species of excellence men are directed, not by an ascendant planet or predominating humour, but by the first… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Every man is of importance to himself, and, therefore, in his own opinion, to others; and, supposing the world already acquainted with… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There is a certain race of men that either imagine it their duty, or make it their amusement, to hinder the reception… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Exactness is first obtained, and afterwards elegance. But diction, merely vocal, is always in its childhood. As no man leaves his eloquence… — 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
Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last; and perhaps always predominates in proportion to the strength… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It was the peculiar artifice of Habit not to suffer her power to be felt at first. Those whom she led, she… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To write is, indeed, no unpleasing employment, when one sentiment readily produces another, and both ideas and expressions present themselves at the… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The student who would build his knowledge on solid foundations, and proceed by just degrees to the pinnacles of truth, is directed… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is our first duty to serve society, and after we have done that, we may attend wholly to the salvation of… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Knowledge always desires increase, it is like fire, which must first be kindled by some external agent, but which will afterwards propagate… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The accidental prescriptions of authority, when time has procured them veneration, are often confounded with the laws of nature, and those rules… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is commonly observed, that when two Englishmen meet, their first talk is of the weather; they are in haste to tell… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Except during the nine months before he draws his first breath, no man manages his affairs as well as a tree. We… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Admiration must be continued by that novelty which first produces it; and how much soever is given, there must always be reason… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The ambition of superior sensibility and superior eloquence disposes the lovers of arts to receive rapture at one time, and communicate it… — 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
