Curiosity, like all other desires, produces pain as well as pleasure. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Then with no throbs of fiery pain, No cold gradations of decay, Death broke at once the vital chain, And freed his… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Always set high value on spontaneous kindness. He whose inclination prompts him to cultivate your friendship of his own accord will love… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To live without feeling or exciting sympathy, to be fortunate without adding to the felicity of others, or afflicted without tasting the… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Resentment gratifies him who intended an injury, and pains him unjustly who did not intend it. — 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
He that never labors may know the pains of idleness, but not the pleasures. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We suffer equal pain from the pertinacious adhesion of unwelcome images, as from the evanescence of those which are pleasing and useful. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Hope itself is a species of happiness, and, perhaps, the chief happiness which this world affords; but, like all other pleasures immoderately… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The mind is seldom quickened to very vigorous operations but by pain, or the dread of pain. We do not disturb ourselves… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Pleasure that is obtained by unreasonable and unsuitable cost must always end in pain. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There are minds so impatient of inferiority that their gratitude is a species of revenge, and they return benefits, not because recompense… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The mind is seldom quickened to very vigorous operations but by pain, or the dread of pain — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
That distrust which intrudes so often on your mind is a mode of melancholy, which, if it be the business of a… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The common people do not accurately adapt their thoughts to objects; nor, secondly, do they accurately adapt their words to their thoughts;… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Pain and disease awaken us to convictions which are necessary to our moral condition. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is a common error, and the greater and more mischievous for being so common, to believe that repentance best becomes and… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Ease, a neutral state between pain and pleasure ... if it is not rising into pleasure will be falling towards pain. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A wise man will make haste to forgive, because he knows the true value of time, and will not suffer it to… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Piety is the only proper and adequate relief of decaying man. He that grows old without religions hopes, as he declines into… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To grieve for evils is often wrong; but it is much more wrong to grieve without them. All sorrow that lasts longer… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I have thought of a pulley to raise me gradually; but that would give me pain, as it would counteract my natural… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Men, however distinguished by external accidents or intrinsick qualities, have all the same wants, the same pains, and, as far as the… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Moral sentences appear ostentatious and tumid, when they have no greater occasions than the journey of a wit to his home town:… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Every man that has felt pain knows how little all other comforts can gladden him to whom health is denied. Yet who… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Why, sir, Sherry is dull, naturally dull; but it must have taken him a great deal of pains to become what we… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Gaiety is to good-humor as animal perfumes to vegetable fragrance. The one overpowers weak spirits, the other recreates and revives them. Gaiety… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is natural for every man uninstructed to murmur at his condition, because, in the general infelicity of life, he feels his… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There will always be a part, and always a very large part of every community, that have no care but for themselves,… — 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
