I am far from any intention to limit curiosity, or confine the labours of learning to arts of immediate and necessary use.… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
People seldom read a book which is given to them; and few are given. The way to spread a work is to… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Then with no throbs of fiery pain, No cold gradations of decay, Death broke at once the vital chain, And freed his… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Everybody loves to have things which please the palate put in their way, without trouble or preparation. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Sir, a man who cannot get to heaven in a green coat, will not find his way thither the sooner in a… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Some people have a foolish way of not minding, or pretending not to mind, what they eat. For my part, I mind… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
He who sees different ways to the same end, will, unless he watches carefully over his own conduct, lay out too much… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There are some works which the authors must consign unpublished to posterity, however uncertain be the event, however hopeless be the trust.… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Many a man is mad in certain instances, and goes through life without having it perceived. For example, a madness has seized… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The business of life is to go forward; he who sees evil in prospect meets it in his way, and he who… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
A quibble is to Shakespeare what luminous vapours are to the traveller: he follows it at all adventures; it is sure to… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The common people do not accurately adapt their thoughts to objects; nor, secondly, do they accurately adapt their words to their thoughts;… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
False taste is always busy to mislead those that are entering upon the regions of learning; and the traveller, uncertain of his… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Men go to sea, before they know the unhappiness of that way of life; and when they have come to know it,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Allow children to be happy in their own way, for what better way will they find? — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The mental disease of the present generation is impatience of study, contempt of the great masters of ancient wisdom, and a disposition… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Much is due to those who first broke the way to knowledge, and left only to their successors the task of smoothing… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Men have been wise in many different modes; but they have always laughed the same way. — 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
