There may be community of material possessions, but there can never be community of love or esteem. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A man may be very sincere in good principles, without having good practice. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I wish you would add an index rerum, that when the reader recollects any incident he may easily find it. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
He that never labors may know the pains of idleness, but not the pleasures. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Bashfulness may sometimes exclude pleasure, but seldom opens any avenue to sorrow or remorse. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A man may write at any time, if he will set himself doggedly to it. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Among the lower classes of mankind there will be found very little desire of any other knowledge than what may contribute immediately… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
As the greatest liar tells more truths than falsehoods, so may it be said of the worst man, that he does more… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Truth has no gradations; nothing which admits of increase can be so much what it is, as truth is truth. There may… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A contempt of the monuments and the wisdom of the past, may be justly reckoned one of the reigning follies of these… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is more reasonable to wish for reputation while it may be enjoyed, as Anacreon calls upon his companions to give him… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Courage is the greatest of all virtues, because if you haven't courage, you may not have an opportunity to use any of… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We may have uneasy feelings for seeing a creature in distress without pity; for we have not pity unless we wish to… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Pride is seldom delicate, it will please itself with very mean advantages; and envy feels not its own happiness, but when it… — 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
The gratification of curiosity rather frees us from uneasiness than confers pleasure; we are more pained by ignorance than delighted by instruction.… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is certain that success naturally confirms in us a favourable opinion of our own abilities. Scarce any man is willing to… — 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
A simile, to be perfect, must both illustrate and ennoble the subject; must show it to the understanding in a clearer view,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
When a friend is carried to his grave, we at once find excuses for every weakness, and palliation of every fault. We… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Without good humour, learning and bravery can only confer that superiority which swells the heart of the lion in the desert, where… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Such is the constitution of man that labour may be styled its own reward; nor will any external incitements be requisite, if… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is justly considered as the greatest excellency of art to imitate nature; but it is necessary to distinguish those parts of… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is true that of far the greater part of things, we must content ourselves with such knowledge as description may exhibit,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
That the happiness of man may still remain imperfect, as wants in this place are easily supplied, new wants likewise are easily… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Every one should consider himself as intrusted not only with his own conduct, but with that of others; and as accountable, not… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The certainty that life cannot be long, and the probability that it will be much shorter than nature allows, ought to awaken… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
As every writer has his use, every writer ought to have his patrons; and since no man, however high he may now… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Providence has fixed the limits of human enjoyment by immovable boundaries, and has set different gratifications at such a distance from each… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Every man speaks and writes with intent to be understood; and it can seldom happen but he that understands himself, might convey… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I fancy mankind may come, in time, to write all aphoristically, except in narrative; grow weary of preparation, and connection, and illustration,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is scarcely credible to what degree discernment may be dazzled by the mist of pride, and wisdom infatuated by the intoxication… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I will take no more physick, not even my opiates; for I have prayed that I may render up my soul to… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The mischief of flattery is, not that it persuades any man that he is what he is not, but that it suppresses… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Of many, imagined blessings it may be doubted whether he that wants or possesses them had more reason to be satisfied with… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is however, reasonable, to have perfection in our eye; that we may always advance towards it, though we know it never… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A voyage to the moon, however romantick and absurd the scheme may now appear, since the properties of air have been better… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
If a man begins to read in the middle of a book, and feels an inclination to go on, let him not… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A thousand years may elapse before there shall appear another man with a power of versification equal to that of Pope. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A country gentleman should bring his lady to visit London as soon as he can, that they may have agreeable topicks for… — 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
