--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The essayist and lexicographer Dr Samuel…" description: "\"“The essayist and lexicographer Dr Samuel Johnson famously once said, ‘When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.’ Well, Samuel, when a woman ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/sue-perkins-5277_life_the-essayist-and-lexicographer-dr-samuel_2155698.jpg" --- # The essayist and lexicographer Dr Samuel Johnson famously… ![“The essayist and lexicographer Dr Samuel Johnson famously once said, ‘When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.’ Well, Samuel, when a woman is tired of London, she usually tries to get away for the weekend – you know, get some perspective. She doesn’t tend to think of it as a precursor…” quote by Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/sue-perkins-5277_life_the-essayist-and-lexicographer-dr-samuel_2155698.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/sue-perkins-5277_life_the-essayist-and-lexicographer-dr-samuel_2155698.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/sue-perkins-5277_life_the-essayist-and-lexicographer-dr-samuel_2155698.jpg) > ““The essayist and lexicographer Dr Samuel Johnson famously once said, ‘When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.’ Well, Samuel, when a woman is tired of London, she usually tries to get away for the weekend – you know, get some perspective. She doesn’t tend to think of it as a precursor for ending her existence. My advice would be: stop being so absolutist in your thinking. Think about changing it up. Failing that, some of the modern SSRIs are really very good.”” [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker advises against rigid thinking, suggesting change and perspective, noting modern SSRIs can help with mood. **In simple terms:** Avoid absolutist thinking; seek change and consider help. Key Takeaway Embrace flexibility and seek support when needed. Themes mental health perspective flexibility Mood thoughtful supportive Type advice psychological When to use this quote - career counseling - travel breaks - therapy sessions Key Concepts cognitive bias therapy medication Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify when thinking is too rigid? - What non‑pharmacological strategies help you? A Different Perspective Absolutism may be a symptom of deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Tired of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tired-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [I do find London exciting. 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'Going out in the Midday Sun'.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-a-hardy/when-a-man-is-tired-of-london-maybe-he-should-go-somewhere-else-going/) Kate A. Hardy > [A person who is tired of London is not necessarily tired of life; it might be that he just can’t find a parking place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/a-person-who-is-tired-of-london-is-not-necessarily-tired-of-life-it/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [London, how could one ever be tired of it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-drabble/london-how-could-one-ever-be-tired-of-it/) [Margaret Drabble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-drabble/) > [You find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. 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It was said that England’s Samuel Johnson could read almost as fast as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kump/there-are-many-famous-people-who-could-read-extremely-fast-it-was/) Peter Kump ## More by Sue Perkins > [I'm OK with my appearance. I have made my peace with it after a long and frankly exhausting battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-m-ok-with-my-appearance-i-have-made-my-peace-with-it-after-a-long/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [I wanted to set 'Heading Out' in a real world, a concept I originally struggled with, as I don't have a proper job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-wanted-to-set-heading-out-in-a-real-world-a-concept-i-originally/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [One day I would want to be an Egyptologist, the next day an ornithologist. I was an exhausting child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/one-day-i-would-want-to-be-an-egyptologist-the-next-day-an/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [Whatever the critics make of 'Maestro,' I hope they don't call it a reality show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/whatever-the-critics-make-of-maestro-i-hope-they-don-t-call-it-a/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [It's always a treat for me to go to the British Library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/it-s-always-a-treat-for-me-to-go-to-the-british-library/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [I have slight attention-span issues, so I will often wander off, and then I will be alerted - in inverted commas - when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-have-slight-attention-span-issues-so-i-will-often-wander-off-and/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [I have only really been able to ever intuit my sexuality through love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-have-only-really-been-able-to-ever-intuit-my-sexuality-through-love/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [Before he died, my dad had three primary cancers over 20 years, and for four of those years, he was having chemo every day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/before-he-died-my-dad-had-three-primary-cancers-over-20-years-and-for/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [I'm always content. 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She doesn’t tend to think of it as a precursor for ending her existence. My advice would be: stop being so absolutist in your thinking. Think about changing it up. 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