The great end of prudence is to give cheerfulness to those hours which splendour cannot gild, and acclamation cannot exhilarate; those soft… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
He that hopes to look back hereafter with satisfaction upon past years must learn to know the present value of single minutes,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Man is a transitory being, and his designs must partake of the imperfections of their author. To confer duration is not always… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Conjecture as to things useful, is good; but conjecture as to what it would be useless to know, is very idle. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
If useless thoughts could be expelled from the mind, all the valuable parts of our knowledge would more frequently recur. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Life is but short; no time can be afforded but for the indulgence of real sorry, or contests upon questions seriously momentous.… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There is no wisdom in useless and hopeless sorrow, but there is something in it so like virtue, that he who is… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
That distrust which intrudes so often on your mind is a mode of melancholy, which, if it be the business of a… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To proportion the eagerness of contest to its importance seems too hard a task for human wisdom. The pride of wit has… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Between falsehood and useless truth there is little difference. As gold which he cannot spend will make no man rich, so knowledge… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It would add much to human happiness, if an art could be taught of forgetting all of which the remembrance is at… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To strive with difficulties, and to conquer them, is the highest human felicity; the next is, to strive, and deserve to conquer:… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
To understand the works of celebrated authors, to comprehend their systems, and retain their reasonings, is a task more than equal to… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Forgetfulness is necessary to remembrance. Ideas are retained by renovation of that impression which time is always wearing away,and which new images… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
If we consider the manner in which those who assume the office of directing the conduct of others execute their undertaking, it… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The business of life summons us away from useless grief, and calls us to the exercise of those virtues of which we… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Remember that nothing will supply the want of prudence, and that negligence and irregularity long continued will make knowledge useless, wit ridiculous,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Attention and respect give pleasure, however late, or however useless. But they are not useless, when they are late, it is reasonable… — 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
