Being reproached for giving to an unworthy person, Aristotle said, I did not give it to the man, but to humanity. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
What provokes your risibility, Sir? Have I said anything that you understand? Then I ask pardon of the rest of the company. — 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
Luxury, so far as it reaches the people, will do good to the race of people; it will strengthen and multiply them.… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Truth, like beauty, varies its fashions, and is best recommended by different dresses to different minds; and he that recalls the attention… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A simile, to be perfect, must both illustrate and ennoble the subject; must show it to the understanding in a clearer view,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
As the greatest liar tells more truths than falsehoods, so may it be said of the worst man, that he does more… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Such is the constitution of Man that labor may be said to be its own re-ward. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There are certain topicks which are never exhausted. Of some images and sentiments the mind of man may be said to be… — 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
An Italian philosopher said that "time was his estate"; an estate indeed which will produce nothing without cultivation, but will always abundantly… — 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
I remember very well, when I was at Oxford, an old gentleman said to me, "Young man, ply your book diligently now,… — 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
If I have said something to hurt a man once, I shall not get the better of this by saying many things… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Happiness," said he, "must be something solid and permanent, without fear and without uncertainty. — 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
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
