It is the quality of patriotism to be jealous and watchful, to observe all secret machinations, and to see publick dangers at… — 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
The vanity of being known to be trusted with a secret is generally one of the chief motives to disclose it. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
As every one is pleased with imagining that he knows something not yet commonly divulged, secret history easily gains credit; but it… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To tell your own secrets is generally folly, but that folly is without guilt; to communicate those with which we are intrusted… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
How small of all that human hearts endure, That part which laws or kings can cause or cure! Still to ourselves in… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To keep your secret is wisdom; but to expect others to keep it is folly. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
In the condition of men, it frequently happens that grief and anxiety lie hid under the golden robes of prosperity; and the… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The rules that I shall propose concerning secrecy, and from which I think it not safe to deviate without long and exact… — 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
