Principles Quotes by Samuel Johnson

I know not, Madam, that you have a right, upon moral principles, to make your readers suffer so much.

— Samuel Johnson

A man may be very sincere in good principles, without having good practice.

— Samuel Johnson

The wretched have no compassion, they can do good only from strong principles of duty.

— Samuel Johnson

Discord generally operates in little things; it is inflamed ... by contrariety of taste oftener than principles.

— Samuel Johnson

The mind is refrigerated by interruption; the thoughts are diverted from the principle subject; the reader is weary, he suspects not why;…

— Samuel Johnson

As to precedents, to be sure they will increase in course of time; but the more precedents there are, the less occasion…

— Samuel Johnson

Every government is perpetually degenerating towards corruption, from which it must be rescued at certain periods by the resuscitation of its first…

— Samuel Johnson

Learn the leading precognita of all things-no need to turn over leaf by leaf, but grasp the trunk hard and you will…

— Samuel Johnson

All to whom want is terrible, upon whatever principle, ought to think themselves obliged to learn the sage maxims of our parsimonious…

— Samuel Johnson

Combinations of wickedness would overwhelm the world, by the advantage which licentious principles afford, did not those who have long practised perfidy…

— Samuel Johnson

It is true that of far the greater part of things, we must content ourselves with such knowledge as description may exhibit,…

— Samuel Johnson

The maxim of Cleobulus, "Mediocrity is best," has been long considered a universal principle, extending through the whole compass of life and…

— Samuel Johnson

We frequently fall into error and folly, not because the true principles of action are not known, but because for a time…

— Samuel Johnson

To scatter praise or blame without regard to justice is to destroy the distinction of good and evil. Many have no other…

— Samuel Johnson

It ought to be the first endeavour of a writer to distinguish nature from custom; or that which is established because it…

— Samuel Johnson

When I first collected these authorities, I was desirous that every quotation should be useful to some other end than the illustration…

— Samuel Johnson