All Samuel Johnson Quotes
- A thousand years may elapse before there shall appear another man with a power of versification equal to that of Pope. Another Man
- It is commonly observed, that when two Englishmen meet, their first talk is of the weather; they are in haste to tell each other, what… Already Know
- Surely nothing is more reproachful to a being endowed with reason, than to resign its powers to the influence of the air, and live in… Air
- Sleep undisturbed within the peaceful shrine till angels wake thee with a note like thine. Angel
- Few faults of style, whether real or imaginary, excite the malignity of a more numerous class of readers, than the use of hard words. Class
- Difference of thoughts will produce difference of language. He that thinks with more extent than another, will want words of a larger meaning; he that… Copies
- This man [Chesterfield], I thought, had been a Lord among wits; but I find he is only a wit among Lords. Among
- There is no crime more infamous than the violation of truth. It is apparent that men can be social beings no longer than they believe… Apparent
- In questions of law or of fact conscience is very often confounded with opinion. No man's conscience can tell him the rights of another man;… Another Man
- Luncheon: as much food as one's hand can hold. Food
- Dogs have not the power of comparing. A dog will take a small piece of meat as readily as a large, when both are before… Both
- This is my history; like all other histories, a narrative of misery. All
- They that have grown old in a single state are generally found to be morose, fretful and captious; tenacious of their own practices and maxims;… Any
- I do not see, Sir, that it is reasonable for a man to be angry at another, whom a woman has preferred to him; but… Angry
- In all pointed sentences, some degree of accuracy must be sacrificed to conciseness. Accuracy
- Disappointment, when it involves neither shame nor loss, is as good as success; for it supplies as many images to the mind, and as many… Disappointment
- Man's chief merit consists in resisting the impulses of his nature. Chief
- Books to judicious compilers, are useful; to particular arts and professions, they are absolutely necessary; to men of real science, they are tools: but more… Absolutely
- Tradition is but a meteor, which, if it once falls, cannot be rekindled. Memory, once interrupted, is not to be recalled. But written learning is… Awhile
- How many may a man of diffusive conversation count among his acquaintances, whose lives have been signalized by numberless escapes; who never cross the river… Acquaintance
- [W]ith an unquiet mind, neither exercise, nor diet, nor physick can be of much use. Diet
- The mind is seldom quickened to very vigorous operations but by pain, or the dread of pain. We do not disturb ourselves with the detection… Detection
- Many useful and valuable books lie buried in shops and libraries, unknown and unexamined, unless some lucky compiler opens them by chance, and finds an… Book
- I fancy mankind may come, in time, to write all aphoristically, except in narrative; grow weary of preparation, and connection, and illustration, and all those… All
- When I first collected these authorities, I was desirous that every quotation should be useful to some other end than the illustration of a word;… Authorities