He that would travel for the entertainment of others should remember that the great object of remark is human life. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The care of the critic should be to distinguish error from inability, faults of inexperience from defects of nature. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There are people whom one should like very well to drop, but would not wish to be dropped by. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There is nothing against which an old man should be so much upon his guard as putting himself to nurse. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
We are told, that the black bear is innocent; but I should not like to trust myself with him. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Dishonor waits on perfidy. A man should blush to think a falsehood; it is the crime of cowards. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is better that some should be unhappy rather than that none should be happy, which would be the case in a… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There must always be some advantage on one side or the other, and it is better that advantage should be had by… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is advantageous to an author that his book should be attacked as well as praised. Fame is a shuttlecock. If it… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Since every man is obliged to promote happiness and virtue, he should be careful not to mislead unwary minds, by appearing to… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A man should be careful never to tell tales of himself to his own disadvantage. People may be amused at the time,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Those who have any intention of deviating from the beaten roads of life, and acquiring a reputation superior to names hourly swept… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
No man is without some quality, by the due application of which he might deserve well of the world; and whoever he… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
People have now a-days got a strange opinion that every thing should be taught by lectures. Now, I cannot see that lectures… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Fear is implanted in us as a preservative from evil but its duty, like that of other passions, is not to overbear… — 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
To exact of every man who writes that he should say something new, would be to reduce authors to a small number;… — 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
It is no matter what you teach them first, any more than what leg you shall put into your breeches first. You… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The Church does not superstitiously observe days, merely as days, but as memorials of important facts. Christmas might be kept as well… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
When I first collected these authorities, I was desirous that every quotation should be useful to some other end than the illustration… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There are three distinct kind of judges upon all new authors or productions; the first are those who know no rules, but… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Books, says Lord Bacon, can never teach us the use of books; the student must learn by commerce with mankind to reduce… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Surely nothing is more reproachful to a being endowed with reason, than to resign its powers to the influence of the air,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
“It is strange that there should be so little reading in the world, and so much writing. People in general do not… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A man of sense and education should meet a suitable companion in a wife. It is a miserable thing when the conversation… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Yet it is necessary to hope, though hope should always be deluded, for hope itself is happiness, and its frustrations, however frequent,… — 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
If a madman were to come into this room with a stick in his hand, no doubt we should pity the state… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Every reader should remember the diffidence of Socrates, and repair by his candour the injuries of time: he should impute the seeming… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
For sorrow there is no remedy provided by nature; it is often occasioned by accidents irreparable, and dwells upon objects that have… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Whosoever shall look heedfully upon those who are eminent for their riches will not think their condition such as that he should… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
As every writer has his use, every writer ought to have his patrons; and since no man, however high he may now… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I would injure no man, and should provoke no resentment. I would relieve every distress, and should enjoy the benedictions of gratitude.… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Religion informs us that misery and sin were produced together. The depravation of human will was followed by a disorder of the… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Critics ought never to be consulted, but while errors may yet be rectified or insipidity suppressed. But when the book has once… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Every one should consider himself as intrusted not only with his own conduct, but with that of others; and as accountable, not… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
No man is much regarded by the rest of the world. He that considers how little he dwells upon the condition of… — 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
