Greatness Quotes by Samuel Johnson

To do something is in every man's power.

— Samuel Johnson

men do not suspect faults which they do not commit

— Samuel Johnson

A man used to vicissitudes is not easily dejected.

— Samuel Johnson

Men seldom give pleasure when they are not pleased themselves.

— Samuel Johnson

He was dull in a new way, and that made many think him great.

— Samuel Johnson

The first step to greatness is to be honest.

— Samuel Johnson

A man may be so much of everything that he is nothing of anything.

— Samuel Johnson

Every man is of importance to himself.

— Samuel Johnson

As a man advances in life he gets what is better than admiration -judgement to estimate things at their own value.

— Samuel Johnson

Most men are more willing to indulge in easy vices than to practise laborious virtues.

— Samuel Johnson

The superiority of some men is merely local. They are great because their associates are little.

— Samuel Johnson

Irresolution and mutability are often the faults of men whose views are wide, and whose imagination is vigorous and excursive.

— Samuel Johnson

There is nothing more fatal to a man whose business is to think than to have learned the art of regaling his…

— Samuel Johnson

As all error is meanness, it is incumbent on every man who consults his own dignity, to retract it as soon as…

— Samuel Johnson

Those writers who lie on the watch for novelty can have little hope of greatness; for great things cannot have escaped former…

— Samuel Johnson

The dependant who cultivates delicacy in himself very little consults his own tranquillity.

— Samuel Johnson

Locke, whom there is no reason to suspect of being a favorer of idleness or libertinism, has advanced that whoever hopes to…

— Samuel Johnson

Men, however distinguished by external accidents or intrinsick qualities, have all the same wants, the same pains, and, as far as the…

— Samuel Johnson

Every man is prompted by the love of himself to imagine that he possesses some qualities, superior, either in kind or degree,…

— Samuel Johnson

Men who stand in the highest ranks of society seldom hear of their faults; if by any accident an opprobrious clamour reaches…

— Samuel Johnson

Scarce any man becomes eminently disagreeable but by a departure from his real character, and an attempt at something for which nature…

— Samuel Johnson

There lurks, perhaps, in every human heart a desire of distinction, which inclines every man first to hope, and then to believe,…

— Samuel Johnson

Every man is prompted by the love of himself to imagine that he possesses some qualities superior, either in kind or degree,…

— Samuel Johnson

He to whom many objects of pursuit arise at the same time, will frequently hesitate between different desires till a rival has…

— Samuel Johnson

That eminence of learning is not to be gained without labour, at least equal to that which any other kind of greatness…

— Samuel Johnson

It is not possible to be regarded with tenderness, except by a few. That merit which gives greatness and renown diffuses its…

— Samuel Johnson

Every man is prompted by the love of himself to imagine that he possesses some qualities, superior, either in kind or degree,…

— Samuel Johnson

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

— Samuel Johnson

No one ever became great by imitation.

— Samuel Johnson

Every man's affairs, however little, are important to himself.

— Samuel Johnson

A man who has not been in Italy, is always conscious of an inferiority.

— Samuel Johnson

Every man has a lurking wish to appear considerable in his native place.

— Samuel Johnson

A man may be very sincere in good principles, without having good practice.

— Samuel Johnson

“A man who has not been in Italy, is always conscious of an inferiority, from his not having seen what it is…

— Samuel Johnson

Instead of rating the man by his performances, we rate too frequently the performances by the man.

— Samuel Johnson

Every state of society is as luxurious as it can be. Men always take the best they can get.

— Samuel Johnson

It may be laid down as a position which seldom deceives, that when a man cannot bear his own company, there is…

— Samuel Johnson

Most men think indistinctly, and therefore cannot speak with exactness . . .

— Samuel Johnson

It is generally agreed, that few men are made better by affluence or exaltation.

— Samuel Johnson

As a madman is apt to think himself grown suddenly great, so he that grows suddenly great is apt to borrow a…

— Samuel Johnson