Johnson Quote by Fred Allen
“During the Samuel Johnson days they had big men enjoying small talk; today we have small men enjoying big talk.”
About This Quote
A witty comparison of past and present social dynamics, suggesting that larger, more confident men once engaged in trivial conversation, whereas now smaller, less confident men dominate serious discourse.
In simple terms: Contrast between past big men talking small and small men talking big.
Key Takeaway
Consider how confidence and social roles have shifted.
Themes
humor
social change
confidence
communication
Mood
ironic
observational
Type
social
cultural
When to use this quote
- political debates
- media commentary
- social gatherings
Key Concepts
social dynamics
public discourse
masculinity
Questions to Reflect On
- What factors drive today’s communication styles?
- Is size truly linked to confidence?
A Different Perspective
The statement may oversimplify complex social trends.
![“[In the aftermath of death] Small talk feels too small, big talk too enormous.” quote by Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1d6/anna-quindlen-467_aftermath_in-the-aftermath-of-death-small-talk-fee_1952324.jpg)
![“In comparing these two writers, he [Samuel Johnson] used this expression: "that there was as great a difference between them as between a man who knew how a watch was made, and a man who could tell the hour by looking on the dial-plate." This was a short and a figurative statement of his…” quote by James Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f19/james-boswell-7136_brighter_in-comparing-these-two-writers-he-samuel_445768.jpg)
![“[Samuel] Johnson's conversation was by much too strong for a person accustomed to obsequiousness and flattery; it was mustard in a young child's mouth!” quote by Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bd9/hester-lynch-piozzi-27737_accustomed_samuel-johnson-s-conversation-was-by-muc_568232.jpg)
![“[Lyndon ] Johnson was responding to a black freedom movement that was tearing the country open and he did what he had to do as a conservative politician.” quote by Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4e4/bill-ayers-1848_black_lyndon-johnson-was-responding-to-a-black_39317.jpg)
![“Look at what I am proposing, and we [wih Bernie Sanders] have a vigorous agreement here. We both want to reign in the excesses of Wall Street. I also want to reign in the excesses of Johnson Controls that we bailed out when they were an autoparts company, and we saved the auto industry, and now…” quote by Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ea8/hillary-clinton-51_agreement_look-at-what-i-am-proposing-and-we-wih-b_49820.jpg)
