« All Would Be Quotes · Samuel Johnson's Page
Would Be Quotes by Samuel Johnson
- He that would be superior to external influences must first become superior to his own passions.
- Labor, if it were not necessary for existence, would be indispensable for the happiness of man.
- Were it not for imagination a man would be as happy in arms of a chambermaid as of a duchess.
- I have often thought that there has rarely passed a life of which a judicious and faithful narrative would not be useful; for not only…
- All envy would be extinguished, if it were universally known that there are none to be envied.
- The hostility perpetually exercised between one man and another, is caused by the desire of many for that which only few can possess. Every man…
- It seems not more reasonable to leave the right of printing unrestrained, because writers may be afterwards censured, than it would be to sleep with…
- All envy is proportionate to desire; we are uneasy at the attainments of another, according as we think our own happiness would be advanced by…
- Little would be wanting to the happiness of life, if every man could conform to the right as soon as he was shown it.
- Men who have flattered themselves into this opinion of their own abilities, look down on all who waste their lives over books, as a race…
- If, sir, men were all virtuous, I should with great alacrity teach them all to fly. But what would be the security of the good…
- I would advise you Sir, to study algebra, if you are not already an adept in it: your head would be less muddy, and you…
- Language is the dress of thought; and as the noblest mien or most graceful action would be degraded and obscured by a garb appropriated to…
- In most ages many countries have had part of their inhabitants in a state of slavery; yet it may be doubted whether slavery can ever…
- To exact of every man who writes that he should say something new, would be to reduce authors to a small number; to oblige the…
- If a madman were to come into this room with a stick in his hand, no doubt we should pity the state of his mind;…
- Without frugality none can be rich, and with it very few would be poor.
- If a man is in doubt whether it would be better for him to expose himself to martyrdom or not, he should not do it.…
- It is thus that mutual cowardice keeps us in peace. Were one half of mankind brave and one cowards, the brave would be always beating…
- Conjecture as to things useful, is good; but conjecture as to what it would be useless to know, is very idle.
More Would Be Quotes
- To be free in an age like ours, one must be in a position of authority. That in itself would be enough… — Hannah Arendt
- Let it be your constant method to look into the design of people's actions, and see what they would be at, as… — Marcus Aurelius
- A jealous lover of human liberty, deeming it the absolute condition of all that we admire and respect in humanity, I reverse… — Mikhail Bakunin
- I know a lot of shows are like, 'Here's the pages,' right before they start filming. I'd have a heart attack. The… — Alan Ball
- The effect of prizes on one's career - if that is what to call it - is considerable, since they give one… — John Banville
- If only every man who sees my films did not get the impression he can make love to me, I would be… — Brigitte Bardot
- I try to very hard to avoid a situation where I would be eating cat or dog; I've managed to gracefully avoid… — Anthony Bourdain
- The Imitation of Christ is a cherished treasure of the Christian world. This great book was written by a Roman Catholic monk.… — Swami Vivekananda