Affectation naturally counterfeits those excellences which are placed at the greatest distance from possibility of attainment, because, knowing our own defects, we… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Among the calamities of war may be numbered the diminution of the love of truth, by the falsehoods which interest dictates, and… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
What is twice read is commonly better remembered that what is transcribed. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Among the calamities of war may be justly numbered the diminution of the love of truth by falsehoods which interest dictates and… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The most useful truths are always universal, and unconnected with accidents and customs. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The relief of enemies has a tendency to unite mankind in fraternal affection. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Whoever rises above those who once pleased themselves with equality, will have many malevolent gazers at his eminence. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Friendship, like love, is destroyed by long absence, though it may be increased by short intermissions. What we have missed long enough… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To love their country has been considered as virtue in men, whose love could not be otherwise than blind, because their preference… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Every man is prompted by the love of himself to imagine that he possesses some qualities superior, either in kind or degree,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The coquette has companions, indeed, but no lovers,--for love is respectful and timorous; and where among her followers will she find a… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is indeed not easy to distinguish affectation from habit; he that has once studiously developed a style, rarely writes afterwards with… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Self-love is often rather arrogant than blind; it does not hide our faults from ourselves, but persuades us that they escape the… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
His death eclipsed the gayety of nations, and impoverished the public stock of harmless pleasure. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We love to expect, and when expectation is either disappointed or gratified, we want to be again expecting. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Hypocrisy is the necessary burden of villainy, affectation part of the chosen trappings of folly; the one completes a villain, the 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
