--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why, sir, Sherry is dull, naturally dull…" description: "\"Why, sir, Sherry is dull, naturally dull; but it must have taken him a great deal of pains to become what we now see him. Such an excess of stupidity, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/samuel-johnson-50_deals_why-sir-sherry-is-dull-naturally-dull-bu_3015138.png" --- # Why, sir, Sherry is dull, naturally dull; but it must have… ![“Why, sir, Sherry is dull, naturally dull; but it must have taken him a great deal of pains to become what we now see him. Such an excess of stupidity, Sir, is not in Nature.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/samuel-johnson-50_deals_why-sir-sherry-is-dull-naturally-dull-bu_3015138.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/samuel-johnson-50_deals_why-sir-sherry-is-dull-naturally-dull-bu_3015138.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/samuel-johnson-50_deals_why-sir-sherry-is-dull-naturally-dull-bu_3015138.png) > “Why, sir, Sherry is dull, naturally dull; but it must have taken him a great deal of pains to become what we now see him. Such an excess of stupidity, Sir, is not in Nature.” [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. Excessive dullness is unnatural; effort is required to become noteworthy. **In simple terms:** Being dull is not natural. Key Takeaway Strive for depth. Themes effort human nature achievement Mood critical thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - creative projects - leadership training Key Concepts self‑improvement creativity social perception Questions to Reflect On - What does “dull” mean to you? - How can you add value? A Different Perspective Not all effort yields success; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Dull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dull/) [Excess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excess/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Naturally Dull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naturally-dull-4852758/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality/) [Sherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sherry/) [Sherry Dull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sherry-dull-4852759/) [Sir Sherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sir-sherry-4852757/) [Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid/) [Stupid people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid-people/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/) [Stupidity Sir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity-sir-4852760/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) ## Related quotes > [ Why, Sir, Sherry \[Thomas Sheridan\] is dull, naturally dull; but it must have taken a great deal of pains to become what we now… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-sir-sherry-thomas-sheridan-is-dull-naturally-dull-but-it-must/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He is not only dull himself, but the cause of dulness in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/he-is-not-only-dull-himself-but-the-cause-of-dulness-in-others/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The Sherry Theater, which I named after my mom, is a place I can go. I do want to give back to the community.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/the-sherry-theater-which-i-named-after-my-mom-is-a-place-i-can-go-i/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [If God had not made Sherry, how imperfect his work would have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-p-rez-gald-s/if-god-had-not-made-sherry-how-imperfect-his-work-would-have-been/) [Benito Perez Galdos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-p-rez-gald-s/) > [For the first time, I notice the lax skin at Mrs. Nightwing's jaw, the fine down that lies upon her cheek like the imprint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/for-the-first-time-i-notice-the-lax-skin-at-mrs-nightwing-s-jaw-the/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [He is like some sherry-crazed old dowager who has lost the family silver at roulette, and who now decides to double up by betting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-johnson/he-is-like-some-sherry-crazed-old-dowager-who-has-lost-the-family/) [Boris Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-johnson/) > [“Sherry would have been attractive, but hard living was not only worn on her yellow face. 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Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“The rites of passage in the academic world are arcane and, in their own way, highly romantic, and the tensions and unplesantries of dissertations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/the-rites-of-passage-in-the-academic-world-are-arcane-and-in-their/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [I have a nervous breakdown in the film and in one scene I get to stand at the top of the stairs waving an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/i-have-a-nervous-breakdown-in-the-film-and-in-one-scene-i-get-to/) [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) > [If penicillin can cure those that are ill, Spanish sherry can bring the dead back to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/if-penicillin-can-cure-those-that-are-ill-spanish-sherry-can-bring/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [I might have it at six-fifteen a.m. just as soon as I get in, but usually it's about eleven o'clock when I'll have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-might-have-it-at-six-fifteen-a-m-just-as-soon-as-i-get-in-but/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The seat received him in a loose and distant kind of way, like an aunt who disapproves of the last fifteen years of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-seat-received-him-in-a-loose-and-distant-kind-of-way-like-an-aunt/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) ## 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. 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