The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope. — 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
Pleasure is very seldom found where it is sought; our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
"I fly from pleasure," said the prince, "because pleasure has ceased to please; I am lonely because I am miserable, and am… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Life consists not of a series of illustrious actions or elegant enjoyments. The greater part of our time passes in compliance with… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To purchase Heaven has gold the power? Can gold remove the mortal hour? In life can love be bought with gold? Are… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The pleasure of expecting enjoyment is often greater than that of obtaining it, and the completion of almost every wish is found… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To see helpless infancy stretching out her hands, and pouring out her cries in testimony of dependence, without any powers to alarm… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Wine gives great pleasure, and every pleasure is of itself a good. and A man should cultivate his mind so as to… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
When a man says he had pleasure with a woman he does not mean conversation. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Bashfulness may sometimes exclude pleasure, but seldom opens any avenue to sorrow or remorse. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We owe to memory not only the increase of our knowledge, and our progress in rational inquiries, but many other intellectual pleasures — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The public pleasures of far the greater part of mankind are counterfeit. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I have no more pleasure in hearing a man attempting wit and failing, than in seeing a man trying to leap over… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Whatever professes to benefit by pleasing must please at once. The pleasures of the mind imply something sudden and unexpected; that which… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is very strange, and very melancholy, that the paucity of human pleasures should persuade us ever to call hunting one of… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To those who have lived long together, everything heard and everything seen recalls some pleasure communicated, some benefit conferred, some petty quarrel… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I am a friend to subordination, as most conducive to the happiness of society. There is a reciprocal pleasure in governing and… — 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
Avarice is generally the last passion of those lives of which the first part has been squandered in pleasure, and the second… — 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
