Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, And pause awhile from letters, to be wise. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Few have abilities so much needed by the rest of the world as to be caressed on their own terms; and he… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Each change of many-colour'd life he drew, Exhausted worlds, and then imagin'd new. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Every class of society has its cant of lamentation, which is understood or regarded by none but themselves; and every part of… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Every man is prompted by the love of himself to imagine that he possesses some qualities, superior, either in kind or degree,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Friendship, peculiar boon of Heaven, The noble mind's delight and pride, To men and angels only given, To all the lower world… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
One of the amusements of idleness is reading without the fatigue of close attention; and the world therefore swarms with writers whose… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Youth enters the world with very happy prejudices in her own favor. She imagines herself not only certain of accomplishing every adventure,… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
There are innumerable questions to which the inquisitive mind can in this state receive no answer: Why do you and I exist?… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Our minds, like our bodies, are in continual flux; something is hourly lost, and something acquired.... Do not suffer life to stagnate;… — 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
Of him that hopes to be forgiven it is indispensably required that he forgive. It is, therefore, superfluous to urge any other… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
That observation which is called knowledge of the world will be found much more frequently to make men cunning than good. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Combinations of wickedness would overwhelm the world, by the advantage which licentious principles afford, did not those who have long practised perfidy… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
I had rather see the portrait of a dog that I know, than all the allegorical paintings they can show me in… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Classical quotation is the parole of literary men all over the world. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
As the faculty of writing has chiefly been a masculine endowment, the reproach of making the world miserable has always been thrown… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The world will never be long without some good reason to hate the unhappy; their real faults are immediately detected; and if… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
It is justly considered as the greatest excellency of art to imitate nature; but it is necessary to distinguish those parts of… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
The finest landscape in the world is improved by a good inn in the foreground. — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself, and don't think of retiring from the world, until the world will be sorry that you… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Consider what importance to society the chastity of women is. Upon that all the property in the world depends. We hang a… — Samuel Johnson Copy Share Image
Every man is of importance to himself, and, therefore, in his own opinion, to others; and, supposing the world already acquainted with… — 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
