You may translate books of science exactly. ... The beauties of poetry cannot be preserved in any language except that in which… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“The end of writing is to instruct; the end of poetry is to instruct by pleasing.” — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Dr Blair . . . asked . . . whether he thought any man of a modern age could have written such… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The essence of poetry is invention; such invention as, by producing something unexpected, surprises and delights. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It was said of Euripides, that every verse was a precept; and it may be said of Shakespeare, that from his works… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Genius, that power which constitutes a poet; that quality without which judgment is cold, and knowledge is inert; that energy which collects,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A Poet, Naturalist, and Historian, Who left scarcely any style of writing untouched, And touched nothing that he did not adorn. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“Shakespeare is above all writers, at least above all modern writers, the poet of nature; the poet that holds up to his… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
New arts are long in the world before poets describe them; for they borrow everything from their predecessors, and commonly derive very… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
About the beginning of the seventeenth century appeared a race of writers that may be termed the metaphysical poets. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“Enquirer, cease, Petitions yet remain, Which Heav'n may hear, nor deem Religion vain. Still raise for Good the supplicating Voice, But leave… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
...it will not always happen that the success of a poet is proportionate to his labor. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Words too familiar, or too remote, defeat the purpose of a poet. From those sounds which we hear on small or on… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The business of the poet, said Imlac, is to examine, not the individual, but the species. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Milton, Madam, was a genius that could cut a Colossus from a rock; but could not carve heads upon cherry-stones. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The stream of Time, which is continually washing the dissoluble fabrics of other poets, passes without injury by the adamant of Shakespeare. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“And yet it fills me with wonder, that, in almost all countries, the most ancient poets are considered as the best: whether… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To tell of disappointment and misery, to thicken the darkness of futurity, and perplex the labyrinth of uncertainty, has been always a… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“In the writings of other poets a character is too often an individual; in those of Shakespeare it is commonly a species.” — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Sir, what is poetry? Why, Sir, it is much easier to say what it is not. We all know what light is;… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The business of a poet is to examine not the individual but the species; to remark general properties and large appearances. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Wheresoe'er I turn my view, All is strange, yet nothing new: Endless labor all along, Endless labor to be wrong: Phrase that… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Poetry cannot be translated; and, therefore, it is the poets that preserve the languages; for we would not be at the trouble… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“That this is a practice contrary to the rules of criticism will be readily allowed; but there is always an appeal open… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
When a poet mentions the spring, we know that the zephyrs are about to whisper, that the groves are to recover their… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
[The poet] must write as the interpreter of nature and the legislator of mankind, and consider himself as presiding over the thoughts… — 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
![“Dr Blair . . . asked . . . whether he thought any man of a modern age could have written such poems [Ossian] . . . 'Yes, Sir, many men, many women, and many children.'” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ad6/samuel-johnson-50_age_dr-blair-asked-whether-he-thought-any-ma_217636.jpg)
![“[The poet] must write as the interpreter of nature and the legislator of mankind, and consider himself as presiding over the thoughts and manners of future generations, as a being superior to time and place.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/668/samuel-johnson-50_future-generation_the-poet-must-write-as-the-interpreter-o_3180253.jpg)
