--- title: "16 Ought Quotes By Samuel Johnson" description: "16 Ought quotes by Samuel Johnson. Plus more from Samuel Johnson and more Ought sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/samuel-johnson-50_be-grateful_sir-they-are-a-race-of-convicts-and-ough_3076751.png" --- > [Sir, they are a race of convicts, and ought to be thankful for any thing we allow them short of hanging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/sir-they-are-a-race-of-convicts-and-ought-to-be-thankful-for-any/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/samuel-johnson-50_be-grateful_sir-they-are-a-race-of-convicts-and-ough_3076751.png) > [A country is in a bad state, which is governed only by laws; because a thousand things occur for which laws cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-country-is-in-a-bad-state-which-is-governed-only-by-laws-because-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb4/samuel-johnson-50_authority_a-country-is-in-a-bad-state-which-is-gov_3133803.png) > [We all live upon the hope of pleasing somebody, and the pleasure of pleasing ought to be greatest, and at last always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/we-all-live-upon-the-hope-of-pleasing-somebody-and-the-pleasure-of/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b3/samuel-johnson-50_consequence_we-all-live-upon-the-hope-of-pleasing-so_1515381.png) > [We ought not to raise expectations which it is not in our power to satisfy.-It is more pleasing to see smoke brightening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/we-ought-not-to-raise-expectations-which-it-is-not-in-our-power-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/samuel-johnson-50_disappointment_we-ought-not-to-raise-expectations-which_1237965.png) > [All to whom want is terrible, upon whatever principle, ought to think themselves obliged to learn the sage maxims of our parsimonious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-to-whom-want-is-terrible-upon-whatever-principle-ought-to-think/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/229/samuel-johnson-50_ancestor_all-to-whom-want-is-terrible-upon-whatev_1408616.png) > [If misery be the effect of virtue, it ought to be reverenced; if of ill-fortune, to be pitied; and if of vice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-misery-be-the-effect-of-virtue-it-ought-to-be-reverenced-if-of-ill/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/samuel-johnson-50_adequate_if-misery-be-the-effect-of-virtue-it-oug_353144.png) > [Critics ought never to be consulted, but while errors may yet be rectified or insipidity suppressed. But when the book has once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/critics-ought-never-to-be-consulted-but-while-errors-may-yet-be/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d9/samuel-johnson-50_arrogance_critics-ought-never-to-be-consulted-but_3030254.jpg) > [Idleness is often covered by turbulence and hurry. He that neglects his known duty and real employment naturally endeavours to crowd his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/idleness-is-often-covered-by-turbulence-and-hurry-he-that-neglects/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/475/samuel-johnson-50_bars_idleness-is-often-covered-by-turbulence_579963.jpg) > [But the distant hope of being one day useful or eminent ought not to mislead us too far from that study which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/but-the-distant-hope-of-being-one-day-useful-or-eminent-ought-not-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ac/samuel-johnson-50_appetite_but-the-distant-hope-of-being-one-day-us_1067249.png) > [The trade of advertising is now so near to perfection that it is not easy to propose any improvement. But as every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-trade-of-advertising-is-now-so-near-to-perfection-that-it-is-not/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/samuel-johnson-50_advertising_the-trade-of-advertising-is-now-so-near_156604.png) > [All violation of established practice implies in its own nature a rejection of the common opinion, a defiance of common censure, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-violation-of-established-practice-implies-in-its-own-nature-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/samuel-johnson-50_advantage_all-violation-of-established-practice-im_2276951.jpg) > [As every writer has his use, every writer ought to have his patrons; and since no man, however high he may now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/as-every-writer-has-his-use-every-writer-ought-to-have-his-patrons/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc6/samuel-johnson-50_avert_as-every-writer-has-his-use-every-writer_3189164.png) > [The certainty that life cannot be long, and the probability that it will be much shorter than nature allows, ought to awaken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-certainty-that-life-cannot-be-long-and-the-probability-that-it-2/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/samuel-johnson-50_active_the-certainty-that-life-cannot-be-long-a_2217800.png) > [As not every instance of similitude can be considered as a proof of imitation, so not every imitation ought to be stigmatised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/as-not-every-instance-of-similitude-can-be-considered-as-a-proof-of/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08c/samuel-johnson-50_adoption_as-not-every-instance-of-similitude-can_1832698.png) > [It ought to be the first endeavour of a writer to distinguish nature from custom; or that which is established because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-ought-to-be-the-first-endeavour-of-a-writer-to-distinguish-nature/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/samuel-johnson-50_attainment_it-ought-to-be-the-first-endeavour-of-a_1837701.png) > [To exact of every man who writes that he should say something new, would be to reduce authors to a small number;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/to-exact-of-every-man-who-writes-that-he-should-say-something-new/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec7/samuel-johnson-50_book_to-exact-of-every-man-who-writes-that-he_822885.jpg) ## Other authors on Ought ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/samuel-johnson/#itemlist", "name": "16 Ought Quotes By Samuel Johnson", "numberOfItems": 16, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sir, they are a race of convicts, and ought to be thankful for any thing we allow them short of hanging.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/sir-they-are-a-race-of-convicts-and-ought-to-be-thankful-for-any/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/samuel-johnson-50_be-grateful_sir-they-are-a-race-of-convicts-and-ough_3076751.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/samuel-johnson-50_be-grateful_sir-they-are-a-race-of-convicts-and-ough_3076751.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/samuel-johnson-50_be-grateful_sir-they-are-a-race-of-convicts-and-ough_3076751.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sir, they are a race of convicts, and ought to be thankful for any thing we allow them short of hanging.” — Samuel Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A country is in a bad state, which is governed only by laws; 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He that neglects his known duty and real employment naturally endeavours to crowd his mind with something that may bar out the remembrance of his own folly, and does any thing but what he ought to do with eager diligence, that he may keep himself in his own favour.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/idleness-is-often-covered-by-turbulence-and-hurry-he-that-neglects/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/475/samuel-johnson-50_bars_idleness-is-often-covered-by-turbulence_579963.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/475/samuel-johnson-50_bars_idleness-is-often-covered-by-turbulence_579963.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/475/samuel-johnson-50_bars_idleness-is-often-covered-by-turbulence_579963.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Idleness is often covered by turbulence and hurry. 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It is true, that no diligence can ascertain success; death may intercept the swiftest career; but he who is cut off in the execution of an honest undertaking has at least the honour of falling in his rank, and has fought the battle, though he missed the victory.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-certainty-that-life-cannot-be-long-and-the-probability-that-it-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/samuel-johnson-50_active_the-certainty-that-life-cannot-be-long-a_2217800.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/samuel-johnson-50_active_the-certainty-that-life-cannot-be-long-a_2217800.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/samuel-johnson-50_active_the-certainty-that-life-cannot-be-long-a_2217800.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The certainty that life cannot be long, and the probability that it will be much shorter than nature allows…” — Samuel Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 14, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As not every instance of similitude can be considered as a proof of imitation, so not every imitation ought to be stigmatised as plagiarism. The adoption of a noble sentiment, or the insertion of a borrowed ornament, may sometimes display so much judgment as will almost compensate for invention; and an inferior genius may, without any imputation of servility, pursue the paths of the ancients, provided he declines to tread in their footsteps.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/as-not-every-instance-of-similitude-can-be-considered-as-a-proof-of/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08c/samuel-johnson-50_adoption_as-not-every-instance-of-similitude-can_1832698.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08c/samuel-johnson-50_adoption_as-not-every-instance-of-similitude-can_1832698.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08c/samuel-johnson-50_adoption_as-not-every-instance-of-similitude-can_1832698.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As not every instance of similitude can be considered as a proof of imitation, so not every imitation ought…” — Samuel Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 15, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It ought to be the first endeavour of a writer to distinguish nature from custom; or that which is established because it is right, from that which is right only because it is established; that he may neither violate essential principles by a desire of novelty, nor debar himself from the attainment of beauties within his view, by a needless fear of breaking rules which no literary dictator had authority to enact.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-ought-to-be-the-first-endeavour-of-a-writer-to-distinguish-nature/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/samuel-johnson-50_attainment_it-ought-to-be-the-first-endeavour-of-a_1837701.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/samuel-johnson-50_attainment_it-ought-to-be-the-first-endeavour-of-a_1837701.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/samuel-johnson-50_attainment_it-ought-to-be-the-first-endeavour-of-a_1837701.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It ought to be the first endeavour of a writer to distinguish nature from custom; or that which is…” — Samuel Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 16, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To exact of every man who writes that he should say something new, would be to reduce authors to a small number; to oblige the most fertile genius to say only what is new, would be to contract his volumes to a few pages. 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