--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant…" description: "\"Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a foo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/samuel-johnson-50_amusement_fly-fishing-may-be-a-very-pleasant-amuse_3017996.png" --- # Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling… ![“Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/samuel-johnson-50_amusement_fly-fishing-may-be-a-very-pleasant-amuse_3017996.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/samuel-johnson-50_amusement_fly-fishing-may-be-a-very-pleasant-amuse_3017996.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/samuel-johnson-50_amusement_fly-fishing-may-be-a-very-pleasant-amuse_3017996.png) > “Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Johnson humorously contrasts refined fishing with a simplistic, foolish pastime, highlighting the absurdity of pretentious leisure. **In simple terms:** Fishing can be silly when overcomplicated. Key Takeaway Don’t overthink simple pleasures. Themes humor leisure critique Mood wry lighthearted Type satirical observational When to use this quote - recreational outings - social gatherings - teaching humility Key Concepts social satire human folly Questions to Reflect On - Do you ever overcomplicate simple activities? - How can humor reveal truth? A Different Perspective The comparison may undervalue genuine skill in angling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amusement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) [Angling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angling/) [Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fish/) [Fishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fishing/) [Fly fishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fly-fishing/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Lakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lakes/) [Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivers/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) ## Related quotes > [“Angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/angling-or-float-fishing-i-can-only-compare-to-a-stick-and-a-string/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I grew up in Florida, started fishing with my dad going down to the Everglades and around the state, plus some offshore stuff for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-bream/i-grew-up-in-florida-started-fishing-with-my-dad-going-down-to-the/) [Shannon Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-bream/) > [The two best times to fish is when it's raining and when it ain't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-f-mcmanus/the-two-best-times-to-fish-is-when-it-s-raining-and-when-it-ain-t/) [Patrick F. McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-f-mcmanus/) > [Fishing is a... discipline in the equality of men - for all men are equal before fish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/fishing-is-a-discipline-in-the-equality-of-men-for-all-men-are-equal/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-fishing-was-good-it-was-the-catching-that-was-bad/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What a tourist terms a plague of insects, the fly fisher calls a great hatch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-f-mcmanus/what-a-tourist-terms-a-plague-of-insects-the-fly-fisher-calls-a-great/) [Patrick F. McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-f-mcmanus/) > [There will be days when the fishing is better than one's most optimistic forecast, others when it is far worse. Either is a gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roderick-haig-brown/there-will-be-days-when-the-fishing-is-better-than-one-s-most/) [Roderick Haig-Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roderick-haig-brown/) > [Our tradition is that of the first man who sneaked away to the creek when the tribe did not really need fish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roderick-haig-brown/our-tradition-is-that-of-the-first-man-who-sneaked-away-to-the-creek/) [Roderick Haig-Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roderick-haig-brown/) > [Good things come to those who initiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-roane/good-things-come-to-those-who-initiate/) [Susan RoAne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-roane/) > [If you've got short, stubby fingers and wear reading glasses, any relaxation you would normally derive from fly fishing is completely eliminated when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ohman/if-you-ve-got-short-stubby-fingers-and-wear-reading-glasses-any/) Jack Ohman > [I think I fish, in part, because it's an anti-social, bohemian business that, when gone about properly, puts you forever outside the mainstream culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/i-think-i-fish-in-part-because-it-s-an-anti-social-bohemian-business/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [All Americans believe that they are born fishermen. For a man to admit a distaste for fishing would be like denouncing mother-love or hating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/all-americans-believe-that-they-are-born-fishermen-for-a-man-to-admit/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [O, sir, doubt not that Angling is an art; is it not an art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/o-sir-doubt-not-that-angling-is-an-art-is-it-not-an-art-to-deceive-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [In every species of fish I've angled for, it is the ones that have got away that thrill me the most, the ones that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bergman/in-every-species-of-fish-i-ve-angled-for-it-is-the-ones-that-have-got/) [Ray Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bergman/) > [Good things come to those who hustle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/good-things-come-to-those-who-hustle/) [Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Amusement quotes > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/every-producer-in-hollywood-had-set-me-down-as-a-type-i-was-both/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [By amusing myself with all these games, all this nonsense, all these picture puzzles, I became famous... I am only a public entertainer who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/by-amusing-myself-with-all-these-games-all-this-nonsense-all-these/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [I just started writing for my own amusement and occasionally singing in little clubs around Los Angeles. Then I wrote 'The Rose,' and through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-mcbroom/i-just-started-writing-for-my-own-amusement-and-occasionally-singing/) [Amanda McBroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-mcbroom/) > [Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-does-not-consist-in-pastimes-and-amusements-but-in-virtuous/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation-what-is-called/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Ordinary people simply don't know what books mean to us, shut up here. Reading, learning, and the radio are our amusements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/ordinary-people-simply-don-t-know-what-books-mean-to-us-shut-up-here/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [My first job was at an amusement park in Virginia. It was the worst. I loved the park but once I'd worked there all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/my-first-job-was-at-an-amusement-park-in-virginia-it-was-the-worst-i/) [Danny McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [I realized, "Gee, you're making the same film over and over here." I just kept making them for my own amusement, but also with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/i-realized-gee-you-re-making-the-same-film-over-and-over-here-i-just/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [I like these boots," I told Vayl. "Do you think they'd sell them to me cheap? I keep ruining mine." "Since when do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rardin/i-like-these-boots-i-told-vayl-do-you-think-they-d-sell-them-to-me/) [Jennifer Rardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rardin/) > [It has to be now,” he insisted, a flick of amusement in his voice. He nudged his burgeoning loins against her. “After all, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/it-has-to-be-now-he-insisted-a-flick-of-amusement-in-his-voice-he/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/act-as-if-the-universe-is-a-prodigious-miracle-created-for-your/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [Amusement that is excessive and followed only for its own sake, allures and deceives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/amusement-that-is-excessive-and-followed-only-for-its-own-sake/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) [Browse all 567 Amusement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/fly-fishing-may-be-a-very-pleasant-amusement-but-angling-or-float/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amusement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/fly-fishing-may-be-a-very-pleasant-amusement-but-angling-or-float/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/samuel-johnson-50_amusement_fly-fishing-may-be-a-very-pleasant-amuse_3017996.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/samuel-johnson-50_amusement_fly-fishing-may-be-a-very-pleasant-amuse_3017996.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/samuel-johnson-50_amusement_fly-fishing-may-be-a-very-pleasant-amuse_3017996.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and…” — Samuel Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Samuel Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/fly-fishing-may-be-a-very-pleasant-amusement-but-angling-or-float/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/fly-fishing-may-be-a-very-pleasant-amusement-but-angling-or-float/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```