In civilized society we all depend upon each other, and our happiness is very much owing to the good opinion of mankind. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Ah! Sir, a boy's being flogged is not so severe as a man's having the hiss of the world against him. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
People have now a-days got a strange opinion that every thing should be taught by lectures. Now, I cannot see that lectures… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We have less reason to be surprised or offended when we find others differ from us in opinion, because we very often… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Prejudice is a great time-saver. You can form opinions without having to get the facts. Prejudice not being founded on reason cannot… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A lawyer has no business with the justice or injustice of the cause which he undertakes, unless his client asks his opinion,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A short letter to a distant friend is, in my opinion, an insult like that of a slight bow or cursory salutation… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
What signifies protesting so against flattery when a person speaks well of one, it must either be true or false, you know… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Among other pleasing errors of young minds is the opinion of their own importance. He that has not yet remarked, how little… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
No cause more frequently produces bashfulness than too high an opinion of our own importance. He that imagines an assembly filled with… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Solitude is the surest nurse of all prurient passions, and a girl in the hurry of preparation, or tumult of gaiety, has… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There are three distinct kind of judges upon all new authors or productions; the first are those who know no rules, but… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The desire of advising has a very extensive prevalence; and, since advice cannot be given but to those that will hear it,… — 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
At length weariness succeeds to labor, and the mind lies at ease in the contemplation of her own attainments without any desire… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Even those to whom Providence has allotted greater strength of understanding, can expect only to improve a single science. In every other… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The majority have no other reason for their opinions than that they are the fashion. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
About things on which the public thinks long it commonly attains to think right. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
No man tells his opinion so freely as when he imagines it received with implicit veneration. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
As any custom is disused, the words that expressed it must perish with it; as any opinion grows popular, it will innovate… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
In youth, it is common to measure right and wrong by the opinion of the world, and in age, to act without… — 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
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
In questions of law or of fact conscience is very often confounded with opinion. No man's conscience can tell him the rights… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Of those that spin out trifles and die without a memorial, many flatter themselves with high opinions of their own importance, and… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There prevails among men of letters, an opinion, that all appearance of science is particularly hateful to Women; and that therefore whoever… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Every man is of importance to himself, and, therefore, in his own opinion, to others; and, supposing the world already acquainted with… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is very natural for young men to be vehement, acrimonious and severe. For as they seldom comprehend at once all the… — 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
To scatter praise or blame without regard to justice is to destroy the distinction of good and evil. Many have no other… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It has long been observed, that an atheist has no just reason for endeavouring conversions; and yet none harass those minds which… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
All violation of established practice implies in its own nature a rejection of the common opinion, a defiance of common censure, and… — 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
