Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, And pause awhile from letters, to be wise. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
History can be formed from permanent monuments and records; but lives can only be written from personal knowledge, which is growing every… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
When I first collected these authorities, I was desirous that every quotation should be useful to some other end than the illustration… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The truly strong and sound mind is the mind that can embrace equally great things and small. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A Poet, Naturalist, and Historian, Who left scarcely any style of writing untouched, And touched nothing that he did not adorn. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
If a man could say nothing against a character but what he can prove, history could not be written. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
As every one is pleased with imagining that he knows something not yet commonly divulged, secret history easily gains credit; but it… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We must consider how very little history there is--I mean real, authentic history. That certain kings reigned and certain battles were fought,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
How is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of negroes? — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
In solitude we have our dreams to ourselves, and in company we agree to dream in concert. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The heroes of literary history have been no less remarkable for what they have suffered than for what they have achieved. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Great abilities are not requisite for an Historian; for in historical composition, all the greatest powers of the human mind are quiescent.… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The history of mankind is little else than a narrative of designs which have failed and hopes that have been disappointed. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Great abilites are not requisitefor an Historian; for in historical composition, all thegreatest powers of the humanmind are quiescent. He has facts… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
This is my history; like all other histories, a narrative of misery. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Great abilities are not requisite for an Historian; for in historical composition, all the greatest powers of the human mind are quiescent. — 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
