--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who fails to please in his salutation…" description: "\"He who fails to please in his salutation and address is at once rejected, and never obtains an opportunity of showing his latest excellences or essenti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/samuel-johnson-50_addresses_he-who-fails-to-please-in-his-salutation_1960116.png" --- # He who fails to please in his salutation and address is at… ![“He who fails to please in his salutation and address is at once rejected, and never obtains an opportunity of showing his latest excellences or essential qualities.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/samuel-johnson-50_addresses_he-who-fails-to-please-in-his-salutation_1960116.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/samuel-johnson-50_addresses_he-who-fails-to-please-in-his-salutation_1960116.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/samuel-johnson-50_addresses_he-who-fails-to-please-in-his-salutation_1960116.png) > “He who fails to please in his salutation and address is at once rejected, and never obtains an opportunity of showing his latest excellences or essential qualities.” [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. Politeness in greeting determines first impressions; failing to greet properly can close doors to future opportunities. **In simple terms:** First impressions matter; a poor greeting blocks chances. Key Takeaway Master courteous greetings. Themes etiquette first impressions opportunity Mood thoughtful practical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - networking events - job interviews - social gatherings - public speaking Key Concepts social dynamics communication Questions to Reflect On - How can you improve your greeting style? - What impact does a greeting have on long‑term relationships? A Different Perspective Cultural differences affect greeting norms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Salutations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salutations/) ## Related quotes > [A short letter to a distant friend is, in my opinion, an insult like that of a slight bow or cursory salutation - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-short-letter-to-a-distant-friend-is-in-my-opinion-an-insult-like/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [O Cyrus , great King, King of Kings, Achaemenian King, King of the land of Iran. I, the Shahanshah of Iran, offer thee salutations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-reza-pahlavi/o-cyrus-great-king-king-of-kings-achaemenian-king-king-of-the-land-of/) [Mohammed Reza Pahlavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-reza-pahlavi/) > [A great piece of advice for online dating is to stand out from the crowd. So greetings like "hello" and "hi" are very common.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-rudder/a-great-piece-of-advice-for-online-dating-is-to-stand-out-from-the/) [Christian Rudder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-rudder/) > [We sometimes meet uncivil men, children of Amazons, who dwell by mountain paths, and are said to be inhospitable to strangers; whose salutation is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-sometimes-meet-uncivil-men-children-of-amazons-who-dwell-by/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A Muslim has five duties towards another Muslim; to return a salutation, visit the sick, follow funerals, accept an invitation and say 'God have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-muhammad/a-muslim-has-five-duties-towards-another-muslim-to-return-a/) [Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) > [Sadly, a prize for peace is a rarity in this world. Most nations have monuments or memorials to war, bronze salutations to heroic battles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/sadly-a-prize-for-peace-is-a-rarity-in-this-world-most-nations-have/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [As a man's salutations, so is the total of his character; in nothing do we lay ourselves so open as in our manner of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/as-a-man-s-salutations-so-is-the-total-of-his-character-in-nothing-do/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [A man passes for that he is worth. What he is engraves itself on his face, on his form, on his fortunes, in letters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-passes-for-that-he-is-worth-what-he-is-engraves-itself-on-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Friends and relations; Send salutations; Just as sure as the stars shine above; This is Christmas, Christmas my dear; The time of year to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/friends-and-relations-send-salutations-just-as-sure-as-the-stars/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Salutations; it's just my fancy way of saying hello or good morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/salutations-it-s-just-my-fancy-way-of-saying-hello-or-good-morning/) [E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) > [The Greeks adored their gods by the simple compliment of kissing their hands; and the Romans were treated as atheists if they would not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-greeks-adored-their-gods-by-the-simple-compliment-of-kissing/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-lid-sa/today-well-lived-makes-every-yesterday-a-dream-of-happiness/) [Kalidasa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-lid-sa/) > [May I just single out for salutations, on the "anti-war" side: Pop Stars For Appeasement, Dancers Against Democracy, Actors For Apathy, Fashionistas For Fascism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/may-i-just-single-out-for-salutations-on-the-anti-war-side-pop-stars/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [Children, daily practice of yoga or sun salutations (surya-namaskara) is very good for health and for spiritual practice. Lack of proper exercise is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/children-daily-practice-of-yoga-or-sun-salutations-surya-namaskara-is/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [In their censures of luxury the fathers are extremely minute and circumstantial; and among the various articles which excite their pious indignation, we may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/in-their-censures-of-luxury-the-fathers-are-extremely-minute-and/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) ## 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 Addresses quotes > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/) [Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-propitious-smiles-of-heaven-can-never-be-expected-on-a-nation/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [I'm a Christian because Christianity names and addresses sin. It acknowledges the reality that the evil we observe in the world is also present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/i-m-a-christian-because-christianity-names-and-addresses-sin-it/) [Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/) > [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/) [Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/) > [The pleasures and the cares of the luckiest ambition, even of limitless power, are nothing next to the intimate happiness that tenderness and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-pleasures-and-the-cares-of-the-luckiest-ambition-even-of/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [You will find a spring by the dwelling of the dead, to the left. Next to it stands a white cypress. Do not approach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustaw-herling-grudzinski/you-will-find-a-spring-by-the-dwelling-of-the-dead-to-the-left-next/) [Gustaw Herling-Grudzinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustaw-herling-grudzinski/) > [ \[T\]he appropriate form of address between man and man ought to be, not monsieur, sir, but fellow sufferer, compagnon de miseres. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/t-he-appropriate-form-of-address-between-man-and-man-ought-to-be-not/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Like a versatile baller, George Dohrmann swings seamlessly from position to position: investigative journalist, social critic, gifted storyteller. The result is a gem of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-jon-wertheim/like-a-versatile-baller-george-dohrmann-swings-seamlessly-from/) [L. Jon Wertheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-jon-wertheim/) > [Each email contains an unsubscribe link. We will NEVER sell, rent, loan, or abuse your email address in ANY way. Writing has been so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mccaffrey/each-email-contains-an-unsubscribe-link-we-will-never-sell-rent-loan/) [Anne McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mccaffrey/) > [The malady of civilized man is his knowledge of death. The good artist, like the wise man, addresses himself to life and invests with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-malady-of-civilized-man-is-his-knowledge-of-death-the-good-artist/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [In science, address the few, in literature the many. In science, the few must dictate opinion to the many; in literature, the many, sooner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/in-science-address-the-few-in-literature-the-many-in-science-the-few/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Pedestrian's rights - because we live in California, I've got to address this issue. I don't know where on the fence I am about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/pedestrian-s-rights-because-we-live-in-california-i-ve-got-to-address/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [With no other privilege than that of sympathy and sincere good wishes, I would address an affectionate exhortation to the youthful literati, grounded on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/with-no-other-privilege-than-that-of-sympathy-and-sincere-good-wishes/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Senator Obama will be taking office at a critical juncture. There are many pressing challenges facing the international community, including the global financial crisis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-clark/senator-obama-will-be-taking-office-at-a-critical-juncture-there-are/) [Helen Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-clark/) Browse all 1,100 Addresses quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He who fails to please in his salutation and address is at once rejected, and never obtains an opportunity of showing his latest excellences or essential qualities.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/he-who-fails-to-please-in-his-salutation-and-address-is-at-once/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Addresses" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/he-who-fails-to-please-in-his-salutation-and-address-is-at-once/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/samuel-johnson-50_addresses_he-who-fails-to-please-in-his-salutation_1960116.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/samuel-johnson-50_addresses_he-who-fails-to-please-in-his-salutation_1960116.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/samuel-johnson-50_addresses_he-who-fails-to-please-in-his-salutation_1960116.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He who fails to please in his salutation and address is at once rejected, and never obtains an opportunity…” — 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": "He who fails to please in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/he-who-fails-to-please-in-his-salutation-and-address-is-at-once/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/he-who-fails-to-please-in-his-salutation-and-address-is-at-once/#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 } } ] } ```