Wine gives great pleasure; and every pleasure is of itself a good. It is a good, unless counterbalanced by evil. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Friendship may well deserve the sacrifice of pleasure, though not of conscience. — 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
It is no less a proof of eminence to have many enemies than many friends — 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
On Sir Joshua Reynolds's observing that the real character of a man was found out by his amusements. Yes, Sir, no man… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
So scanty is our present allowance of happiness that in many situations life could scarcely be supported if hope were not allowed… — 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
Men who could willingly resign the luxuries and sensual pleasures of a large fortune cannot consent to live without the grandeur and… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
He said that few people had intellectual resources sufficient to forgo the pleasures of wine. They could not otherwise contrive how to… — 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
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
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
Knowledge is praised and desired by multitudes whom her charms could never rouse from the couch of sloth; whom the faintest invitation… — 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
Pleasure is very seldom found where it is sought. Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks. The flowers… — 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
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
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
If, sir, men were all virtuous, I should with great alacrity teach them all to fly. But what would be the security… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The true effect of genuine politeness seems to be rather ease than pleasure. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
He that never labors may know the pains of idleness, but not the pleasures. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
His death eclipsed the gayety of nations, and impoverished the public stock of harmless pleasure. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
But though it cannot be reasonable not to gain happiness for fear of losing it, yet it must be confessed, that in… — 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
Books have always a secret influence on the understanding; we cannot at pleasure obliterate ideas; he that reads books of science, thogh… — 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
Such is the pleasure of projecting that many content themselves with a succession of visionary schemes, and wear out their allotted time… — 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
No man reads a book of science from pure inclination. The books that we do read with pleasure are light compositions, which… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The friendship which is to be practised or expected by common mortals, must take its rise from mutual pleasure, and must end… — 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
The luster of diamonds is invigorated by the interposition of darker bodies; the lights of a picture are created by the shades;… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We are all prompted by the same motives, all deceived by the same fallacies, all animated by hope, obstructed by danger, entangled… — 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
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
