Samuel Johnson Quotes
Every other author may aspire to praise; the lexicographer can only hope to escape reproach.
If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man, sir, should keep his friendship in a constant repair.
Lexicographer: a writer of dictionaries, a harmless drudge, that busies himself in tracing the original, and detailing the signification of words.
Distance has the same effect on the mind as on the eye.
It is the just doom of laziness and gluttony to be inactive without ease and drowsy without tranquility.
No government power can be abused long. Mankind will not bear it.... There is a remedy in human nature against tyranny, that will keep us safe under every form of government.
Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it.
Every old man complains of the growing depravity of the world, of the petulance and insolence of the rising generation.
It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust.
Dishonor waits on perfidy. A man should blush to think a falsehood; it is the crime of cowards.
I deny the lawfulness of telling a lie to a sick man for fear of alarming him; you have no business with consequences, you are to tell the truth.
From thee, great God, we spring, to thee we tend,- Path, motive, guide, original, and end.
Courage is the greatest of all virtues, because if you haven't courage, you may not have an opportunity to use any of the others.
Men know that women are an overmatch for them, and therefore they choose the weakest or the most ignorant. If they did not think so, they never could be afraid of women knowing as much as themselves.
When any calamity is suffered, the first thing to be remembered is, how much has been escaped.
A man who both spends and saves money is the happiest man, because he has both enjoyments.
Combinations of wickedness would overwhelm the world, by the advantage which licentious principles afford, did not those who have long practised perfidy grow faithless to each other.
In misery's darkest cavern known, His useful care was ever nigh Where hopeless anguish pour'd his groan, And lonely want retir'd to die.
To preserve health is a moral and religious duty: for health is the basis of all social virtues; and we can be useful no longer than while we are well.
To prevent evil is the great end of government, the end for which vigilance and severity are properly employed.
There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern.
If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.
