That friendship may be at once fond and lasting, there must not only be equal virtue on each part, but virtue of… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Every other enjoyment malice may destroy; every other panegyric envy may withhold; but no human power can deprive the boaster of his… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Most vices may be committed very genteelly: a man may debauch his friend's wife genteelly: he may cheat at cards genteelly — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
More knowledge may be gained of a man's real character by a short conversation with one of his servants than from a… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A man who uses a great many words to express his meaning is like a bad marksman who, instead of aiming a… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Hunger is never delicate; they who are seldom gorged to the full with praise may be safely fed with gross compliments, for… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A fly, Sir, may sting a stately horse and make him wince; but, one is but an insect, and the other is… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
He is a benefactor of mankind who contracts the great rules of life into the short sentences, that may be easily impressed… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Commerce however we may please ourselves with the contrary opinion, is one of the daughters of fortune, inconstant and deceitful as her… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Tradition is but a meteor, which, if it once falls, cannot be rekindled. Memory, once interrupted, is not to be recalled. But… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Few men survey themselves with so much severity as not to admit prejudices in their own favour, which an artful flatterer may… — 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
There are certain topicks which are never exhausted. Of some images and sentiments the mind of man may be said to be… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Wisdom and virtue are by no means sufficient, without the supplemental laws of good-breeding, to secure freedom from degenerating into rudeness, or… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To use two languages familiarly and without contaminating one by the other, is very difficult; and to use more than two is… — 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
It is the quality of patriotism to be jealous and watchful, to observe all secret machinations, and to see publick dangers at… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
How many may a man of diffusive conversation count among his acquaintances, whose lives have been signalized by numberless escapes; who never… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
In most ages many countries have had part of their inhabitants in a state of slavery; yet it may be doubted whether… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The task of an author is, either to teach what is not known, or to recommend known truths by his manner of… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Man is a transitory being, and his designs must partake of the imperfections of their author. To confer duration is not always… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
As not every instance of similitude can be considered as a proof of imitation, so not every imitation ought to be stigmatised… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A merchant may, perhaps, be a man of an enlarged mind, but there is nothing in trade connected with an enlarged mind. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
He who writes much will not easily escape a manner, such a recurrence of particular modes as may be easily noted. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
From all our observations we may collect with certainty, that misery is the lot of man, but cannot discover in what particular… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There are goods so opposed that we cannot seize both, but, by too much prudence, may pass between them at too great… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It may be observed in general that the future is purchased by the present. It is not possible to secure distant or… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The belief of immortality is impressed upon all men, and all men act under an impression of it, however they may talk,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We may have many acquaintances, but we can have but few friends; this made Aristotle say that he that hath many friends… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To have the management of the mind is a great art, and it may be attained in a considerable degree by experience… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The use of travelling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It seems not more reasonable to leave the right of printing unrestrained, because writers may be afterwards censured, than it would be… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Idleness and timidity often despair without being overcome, and forbear attempts for fear of being defeated; and we may promote the invigoration… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
All truth is valuable, and satirical criticism may be considered as useful when it rectifies error and improves judgment; he that refines… — 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
It is our first duty to serve society, and after we have done that, we may attend wholly to the salvation of… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Pendantry is the unseasonable ostentation of learning. It may be discovered either in the choice of a subject or in the manner… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Criticism is a study by which men grow important and formidable at very small expense. He whom nature has made weak, and… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is reasonable to have perfection in our eye that we may always advance toward it, though we know it can never… — 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
