It is good sense applied with diligence to what was at first a mere accident, and which by great application grew to… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is necessary to the success of flattery, that it be accommodated to particular circumstances or characters, and enter the heart on… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Books to judicious compilers, are useful; to particular arts and professions, they are absolutely necessary; to men of real science, they are… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Whoever commits a fraud is guilty not only of the particular injury to him who he deceives, but of the diminution of… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Good breeding consists in having no particular mark of any profession, but a general elegance of manners. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The power, indeed, of every individual is small, and the consequence of his endeavours imperceptible, in a general prospect of the world.… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
He who writes much will not easily escape a manner, such a recurrence of particular modes as may be easily noted. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
From all our observations we may collect with certainty, that misery is the lot of man, but cannot discover in what particular… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The true genius is a mind of large general powers, accidentally determined to some particular direction. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Few men survey themselves with so much severity as not to admit prejudices in their own favour, which an artful flatterer may… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Men go to sea, before they know the unhappiness of that way of life; and when they have come to know it,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
But to the particular species of excellence men are directed, not by an ascendant planet or predominating humour, but by the first… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The parallel circumstances and kindred images to which we readily conform our minds are, above all other writings, to be found in… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
If we consider the manner in which those who assume the office of directing the conduct of others execute their undertaking, it… — 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
