Those who attain any excellence, commonly spend life in one pursuit; for excellence is not often gained upon easier terms. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Is not a patron one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is natural for every man uninstructed to murmur at his condition, because, in the general infelicity of life, he feels his… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The number of such as live without the ardour of inquiry is very small, though many content themselves with cheap amusements, and… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Philosophers there are who try to make themselves believe that this life is happy; but they believe it only while they are… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man,… — 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
As a man advances in life he gets what is better than admiration -judgement to estimate things at their own value. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The uniform necessities of human nature produce in a great measure uniformity of life, and for part of the day make one… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“The chief advantage which these fictions have over real life is, that their authors are at liberty, though not to invent, yet… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
If you would shut up any man with any woman, so as to make them derive their whole pleasure from each other,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is not difficult to conceive, however, that for many reasons a man writes much better than he lives. For without entering… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Our minds, like our bodies, are in continual flux; something is hourly lost, and something acquired… Do not suffer life to stagnate;… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The life of a conscientious clergyman is not easy. I have always considered a clergyman as the father of a larger family… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“Who will consider that no dictionary of a living tongue ever can be perfect, since, while it is hastening to publication, some… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We took tea, by Boswell's desire; and I eat one bun, I think, that I might not be seen to fast ostentatiously.… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
These papers of the day have uses more adequate to the purposes of common life than more pompous and durable volumes. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own dispositions will waste… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There is, indeed, nothing that so much seduces reason from vigilance, as the thought of passing life with an amiable woman. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Peevishness may be considered the canker of life, that destroys its vigor and checks its improvement; that creeps on with hourly depredations,… — 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
Life must be filled up, and the man who is not capable of intellectual pleasures must content himself with such as his… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Let observation with extensive view, Survey mankind from China to Peru; Remark each anxious toil, each eager strife, And watch the busy… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There is certainly no greater happiness than to be able to look back on a life usefully and virtuously employed, to trace… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The business of life summons us away from useless grief, and calls us to the exercise of those virtues of which we… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The main of life is composed of small incidents and petty occurrences; of wishes for objects not remote, and grief for disappointments… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Health is so necessary to all the duties, as well as pleasures of life, that the crime of squandering it is equal… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
That man is never happy for the present is so true, that all his relief from unhappiness is only forgetting himself for… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Life of Ages, richly poured, Love of God unspent and free, Flowing in the Prophet's word And the People's liberty! Never was… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Men go to sea, before they know the unhappiness of that way of life; and when they have come to know it,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The maxim of Cleobulus, "Mediocrity is best," has been long considered a universal principle, extending through the whole compass of life and… — 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
The business of life is to go forward; he who sees evil in prospect meets it in his way, and he who… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Such is the state of life, that none are happy but by the anticipation of change: the change itself is nothing; when… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
As he that lives longest lives but a little while, every man may be certain that he has no time to waste.… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Many leave the labours of half their life to their executors and to chance, because they will not send them abroad unfinished,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Life is but short; no time can be afforded but for the indulgence of real sorry, or contests upon questions seriously momentous.… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
In writing, as in life, faults are endured without disgust when they are associated with transcendent merit, and may be sometimes recommended… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
He that writes may be considered as a kind of general challenger, whom every one has a right to attack; since he… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A student may easily exhaust his life in comparing divines and moralists without any practical regard to morals and religion; he may… — 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
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 Image
That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
