Samuel Johnson Quotes

We seldom learn the true want of what we have till it is discovered that we can have no more.

Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect. Every advance into knowledge opens new prospects, and produces new incitements to farther progress.

The eye of the mind, like that of the body, can only extend its view to new objects, by losing sight of those which are now before it.

Most minds are the slaves of external circumstances, and conform to any hand that undertakes to mould them.

It is unpleasing to represent our affairs to our own disadvantage; yet it is necessary to shew the evils which we desire to be removed.

Bashfulness may sometimes exclude pleasure, but seldom opens any avenue to sorrow or remorse.

What a strange narrowness of mind now is that, to think the things we have not known are better than the things we have known.

Hope is itself a species of happiness.

A transition from an author's book to his conversation, is too often like an entrance into a large city.

Many useful and valuable books lie buried in shops and libraries, unknown and unexamined, unless some lucky compiler opens them by chance, and finds an easy spoil of wit and learning.

Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, And pause awhile from letters, to be wise.

He that would travel for the entertainment of others should remember that the great object of remark is human life.

Life will not bear refinement. You must do as other people do.

Sleep undisturbed within this peaceful shrine, Till angels wake thee with a note like thine.

A blade of grass is always a blade of grass, whether in one country or another.

Was ever poet so trusted before?

Sir, there is no settling the point of precedency between a louse and a flea.

It is one of the maxims of the civil law, that definitions are hazardous.

A man guilty of poverty easily believes himself suspected.

To make dictionaries is dull work.

All this [wealth] excludes but one evil, poverty.

Happiness consists in the multiplicity of agreeable consciousness.

By forbearing to do what may innocently be done, we may add hourly new vigor to resolution.

The booksellers are generous liberal-minded men.

The dependant who cultivates delicacy in himself very little consults his own tranquillity.

Profuseness is a cruel and crafty demon, that gradually involves her followers in dependence and debt; that is, fetters them with irons that enter into their souls.

One of the most pernicious effects of haste is obscurity.

An epithet or metaphor drawn from nature ennobles art; an epithet or metaphor drawn from art degrades nature.

Money confounds subordination.

He that has once concluded it lawful to resist power, when it wants merit, will soon find a want of merit, to justify his resistance to power.

I am a friend to subordination, as most conducive to the happiness of society. There is a reciprocal pleasure in governing and being governed.

I will take no more physick, not even my opiates; for I have prayed that I may render up my soul to God unclouded.

I would be loath to speak ill of any person who I do not know deserves it, but I am afraid he is an attorney.

To a people warlike and indigent, an incursion into a rich country is never hurtful.

Nature makes us poor only when we want necessaries, but custom gives the name of poverty to the want of superfluities.

He that thinks he can afford to be negligent is not far from being poor.

Hypocrisy is the necessary burden of villainy, affectation part of the chosen trappings of folly; the one completes a villain, the other only finishes a fop.

The most Heterogeneous ideas are yoked by violence together.

Let him that desires to see others happy, make haste to give while his gift can be enjoyed, and remember that every moment of delay takes away something from the value of his benefaction.

Security will produce danger.

Solitude is dangerous to reason, without being favourable to virtue. Remember that the solitary mortal is certainly luxurious, probably superstitious, and possibly mad.

I am sorry I have not learnt to play at cards. It is very useful in life: it generates kindness, and consolidates society.

Genius is that energy which collects, combines, amplifies, and animates.

He who aspires to be a serious wine drinker must drink claret.

A man who is good enough to go to heaven is good enough to be a clergyman.

Every other enjoyment malice may destroy; every other panegyric envy may withhold; but no human power can deprive the boaster of his own encomiums.

Avarice is always poor.

How can children credit the assertions of parents, which their own eyes show them to be false? Few parents act in such a manner as much to enforce their maxims by the credit of their lives

Nothing is more common than mutual dislike, where mutual approbation is particularly expected.

Ah! Sir, a boy's being flogged is not so severe as a man's having the hiss of the world against him.