Sir, they are a race of convicts, and ought to be thankful for any thing we allow them short of hanging. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A country is in a bad state, which is governed only by laws; because a thousand things occur for which laws cannot… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We all live upon the hope of pleasing somebody, and the pleasure of pleasing ought to be greatest, and at last always… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We ought not to raise expectations which it is not in our power to satisfy.-It is more pleasing to see smoke brightening… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
All to whom want is terrible, upon whatever principle, ought to think themselves obliged to learn the sage maxims of our parsimonious… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
If misery be the effect of virtue, it ought to be reverenced; if of ill-fortune, to be pitied; and if of vice,… — 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
Idleness is often covered by turbulence and hurry. He that neglects his known duty and real employment naturally endeavours to crowd his… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
But the distant hope of being one day useful or eminent ought not to mislead us too far from that study which… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The trade of advertising is now so near to perfection that it is not easy to propose any improvement. But as every… — 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
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
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 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
It ought to be the first endeavour of a writer to distinguish nature from custom; or that which is established because it… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To exact of every man who writes that he should say something new, would be to reduce authors to a small number;… — 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
