Every man has a lurking wish to appear considerable in his native place. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Little would be wanting to the happiness of life, if every man could conform to the right as soon as he was… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The life of a solitary man will be certainly miserable, but not certainly devout. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
If the man who turnips cries, Cry not when his father dies, 'Tis proof that he had rather Have a turnip than… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Such seems to be the disposition of man, that whatever makes a distinction produces rivalry. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I have no more pleasure in hearing a man attempting wit and failing, than in seeing a man trying to leap over… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
His scorn of the great is repeated too often to be real; no man thinks much of that which he despises. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
God Himself, sir, does not propose to judge a man until his life is over. Why should you and I? — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Wine gives a man nothing. It neither gives him knowledge nor wit; it only animates a man, and enables him to bring… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I advised Chambers, and would advise every young man beginning to compose, to do it as fast as he can, to get… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Politics are now nothing more than means of rising in the world. With this sole view do men engage in politics, and… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A man of sense and education should meet a suitable companion in a wife. It is a miserable thing when the conversation… — 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
No wonder, Sir, that he is vain; a man who is perpetually flattered in every mode that can be conceived. So many… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Was there ever yet anything written by mere man that was wished longer by its readers, excepting Don Quixote, Robinson Crusoe, and… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Among many parallels which men of imagination have drawn between the natural and moral state of the world, it has been observed… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
These are the men who, without virtue, labour, or hazard, are growing rich, as their country is impoverished; they rejoice, when obstinacy… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is not indeed certain, that the most refined caution will find a proper time for bringing a man to the knowledge… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We are unreasonably desirous to separate the goods of life from those evils which Providence has connected with them, and to catch… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The hostility perpetually exercised between one man and another, is caused by the desire of many for that which only few can… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
All knowledge is of itself of some value. There is nothing so minute or inconsiderable, that I would not rather know it… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Books, says Lord Bacon, can never teach us the use of books; the student must learn by commerce with mankind to reduce… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There is such a difference between the pursuits of men in great cities that one part of the inhabitants lives to little… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Men who have flattered themselves into this opinion of their own abilities, look down on all who waste their lives over books,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A man may be very sincere in good principles, without having good practice. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Men are most powerfully affected by those evils which themselves feel, or which appear before their own eyes. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Must helpless man, in ignorance sedate, roll darkly down the torrent of his fate. — 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
Man is a transitory being, and his designs must partake of the imperfections their author. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Wit will never make a man rich, but there are places where riches will always make a wit. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Wine gives great pleasure, and every pleasure is of itself a good. and A man should cultivate his mind so as to… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I remember very well, when I was at Oxford, an old gentleman said to me, "Young man, ply your book diligently now,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
He that is warm for truth, and fearless in its defense, performs one of the duties of a good man; he strenghtens… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is so far from being natural for a man and woman to live in a state of marriage, that we find… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A mere literary man is a dull man; a man who is solely a man of business is a selfish man; but… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The prospect of penury in age is so gloomy and terrifying that every man who looks before him must resolve to avoid… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Liberty is the parent of truth, but truth and decency are sometimes at variance. All men and all propositions are to be… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I do not see, Sir, that it is reasonable for a man to be angry at another, whom a woman has preferred… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
So far is it from being true that men are naturally equal, that no two people can be half an hour together,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
John Wesley's conversation is good, but he is never at leisure. He is always obliged to go at a certain hour. This… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share
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
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
It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share
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
The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share
“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
“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
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
That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem — Samuel Johnson Copy Share
The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share
