It may be laid down as a position which seldom deceives, that when a man cannot bear his own company, there is… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
So many objections may be made to everything, that nothing can overcome them but the necessity of doing something. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There may be other reasons for a man's not speaking in publick than want of resolution: he may have nothing to say. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
You may abuse a tragedy, though you cannot write one. You may scold a carpenter who has made you a bad table,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Credulity is the common failing of inexperienced virtue; and he who is spontaneously suspicious may justly be charged with radical corruption. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It was said of Euripides, that every verse was a precept; and it may be said of Shakespeare, that from his works… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
He that accepts protection, stipulates obedience. We have always protected the Americans; we may therefore subject them to government. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The blaze of reputation cannot be blown out, but it often dies in the socket; a very few names may be considered… — 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
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
The complaint, therefore, that all topicks are preoccupied, is nothing more than the murmur of ignorance or idleness, by which some discourage… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It may be no less dangerous to claim, on certain occasions, too little than too much. There is something captivating in spirit… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
False taste is always busy to mislead those that are entering upon the regions of learning; and the traveller, uncertain of his… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
That all who are happy are equally happy is not true. A peasant and a philosopher may be equally satisfied, but not… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is, however, not necessary, that a man should forbear to write, till he has discovered some truth unknown before; he may… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Those who are in the power of evil habits must conquer them as they can; and conquered they must be, or neither… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Every man has some favorite topic of conversation, on which, by a feigned seriousness of attention, he may be drawn to expatiate… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A man should be careful never to tell tales of himself to his own disadvantage. People may be amused at the time,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is the condition of our present state to see more than we can attain; the exactest vigilance and caution can never… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Philosophy has often attempted to repress insolence by asserting that all conditions are leveled by death; a position which, however it may… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We have now learned that rashness and imprudence will not be deterred from taking credit; let us try whether fraud and avarice… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Knowledge is praised and desired by multitudes whom her charms could never rouse from the couch of sloth; whom the faintest invitation… — 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
Pity is not natural to man. Children and savages are always cruel. Pity is acquired and improved by the cultivation of reason.… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Exactness is first obtained, and afterwards elegance. But diction, merely vocal, is always in its childhood. As no man leaves his eloquence… — 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
In civilized society external advantages make us more respected. A man with a good coat upon his back meets with a better… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Never, my dear Sir, do you take it into your head that I do not love you; you may settle yourself in… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We frequently fall into error and folly, not because the true principles of action are not known, but because for a time… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Critics ought never to be consulted, but while errors may yet be rectified or insipidity suppressed. But when the book has once… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I do not wonder that, where the monastick life is permitted, every order finds votaries, and every monastery inhabitants. Men will submit… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Pity is not natural to man. Children are always cruel. Savages are always cruel. Pity is acquired and improved by the cultivation… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
When once a man has made celebrity necessary to his happiness, he has put it in the power of the weakest and… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Flattery pleases very generally. In the first place, the flatterer may think what he says to be true; but, in the second… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Some claim a place in the list of patriots, by an acrimonious and unremitting opposition to the court. This mark is by… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Deceit and falsehood, whatever conveniences they may for a time promise or produce, are, in the sum of life, obstacles to happiness.… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Youth enters the world with very happy prejudices in her own favor. She imagines herself not only certain of accomplishing every adventure,… — 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
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
Books are faithful repositories, which may be awhile neglected or forgotten; but when they are opened again, will again impart their instruction:… — 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
