Samuel Johnson Quotes

You can't be in politics unless you can walk in a room and know in a minute who's for you and who's against you.

We are all prompted by the same motives, all deceived by the same fallacies, all animated by hope, obstructed by danger, entangled by desire, and seduced by pleasure.

The first step to greatness is to be honest.

There is a frightful interval between the seed and the timber.

The business of life is to go forward.

Slavery is now nowhere more patiently endured, than in countries once inhabited by the zealots of liberty.

It is commonly a weak man who marries for love.

In general those parents have the most reverence who most deserve it; for he that lives well cannot be despised.

A quibble is to Shakespeare what luminous vapours are to the traveller: he follows it at all adventures; it is sure to lead him out of his way and sure to engulf him in the mire.

Riches seldom make their owners rich.

To be free it is not enough to beat the system, one must beat the system every day

He that applauds him who does not deserve praise, is endeavoring to deceive the public; he that hisses in malice or sport, is an oppressor and a robber.

Memory is like all other human powers, with which no man can be satisfied who measures them by what he can conceive, or by what he can desire.

In youth, it is common to measure right and wrong by the opinion of the world, and in age, to act without any measure but interest, and to lose shame without substituting virtue.

Depend upon it, sir, it is when you come close to a man in conservation that you discover what his real abilities are; to make a speech in a public assembly is a knack.

We are not here to sell a parcel of boilers and vats, but the potentiality of growing rich beyond the dreams of avarice.

To me - the choice of life is become less important; I hope hereafter to think only on the choice of eternity.

Reason elevates our thoughts as high as the stars, and leads us through the vast space of this mighty fabric; yet it comes far short of the real extent of our corporeal being.

Some have little power to do good, and have likewise little strength to resist evil.

Unless a woman has an amorous heart, she is a dull companion.

Applause abates diligence.

When first the college rolls receive his name, The young enthusiast quilts his ease for fame; Through all his veins the fever of renown Burns from the strong contagion of the gown

..to write and to live are very different. Many who praise virtue, do no more than praise it.

We suffer equal pain from the pertinacious adhesion of unwelcome images, as from the evanescence of those which are pleasing and useful.

If we will have the kindness of others, we must endure their follies.

Life is a pill which none of us can bear to swallow without gilding.

Our minds should not be empty because if they are not preoccupied by good, evil will break in upon them.

No government power can be abused long. Mankind will not bear it.

Every state of society is as luxurious as it can be. Men always take the best they can get.

men do not suspect faults which they do not commit

It is common to overlook what is near by keeping the eye fixed on something remote.

The man who is asked by an author what he thinks of his work is put to the torture and is not obliged to speak the truth.

Treating your adversary with respect is striking soft in battle.

Let me smile with the wise, and feed with the rich.

Ignorance, when it is voluntary, is criminal.

Prejudice is a great time-saver. You can form opinions without having to get the facts. Prejudice not being founded on reason cannot be removed by argument.

Every man has something to do which he neglects, every man has faults to conquer which he delays to combat.

The dangers gather as the treasures rise.

It very seldom happens to a man that his business is his pleasure.

If you want to be a writer, then write. Write every day!

Judgment is forced upon us by experience

Prosperity's right hand is industry and her left hand is frugality.

Assertion is not argument; to contradict the statement of an opponent is not proof that you are correct.

Such seems to be the disposition of man, that whatever makes a distinction produces rivalry.

As the mind must govern the hands, so in every society the man of intelligence must direct the man of labor.

[W]ith an unquiet mind, neither exercise, nor diet, nor physick can be of much use.

If we estimate dignity by immediate usefulness, agriculture is undoubtedly the first and noblest science.

How is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of negroes?

The great effect of friendship is beneficence, yet by the first act of uncommon kindness it is endangered.

Discord generally operates in little things; it is inflamed ... by contrariety of taste oftener than principles.