Samuel Johnson Quotes

All theory is against freedom of the will; all experience for it.

By Samuel Johnson

I have always considered it as treason against the great republic of human nature, to make any man's virtues the means of deceiving him.

By Samuel Johnson

Do not discourage your children from hoarding, if they have a taste to it; whoever lays up his penny rather than part with it for a cake, at least is not the slave of gross appetite; and shows besides a preference always to be esteemed, of the future to the present moment.

By Samuel Johnson

Christianity is the highest perfection of humanity.

By Samuel Johnson

By taking a second wife he pays the highest compliment to the first, by showing that she made him so happy as a married man, that he wishes to be so a second time.

By Samuel Johnson

I never desire to converse with a man who has written more than he has read.

By Samuel Johnson

I have thought of a pulley to raise me gradually; but that would give me pain, as it would counteract my natural inclination. I would have something that can dissipate the inertia and give elasticity to the muscles. We can heat the body, we can cool it; we can give it tension or relaxation; and surely it is possible to bring it into a state in which rising from bed will not be a pain.

By Samuel Johnson

It is not true that people are naturally equal for no two people can be together for even a half an hour without one acquiring an evident superiority over the other.

By Samuel Johnson

It generally happens that assurance keeps an even pace with ability.

By Samuel Johnson

Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.

By Samuel Johnson

No member of society has the right to teach any doctrine contrary to what society holds to be true.

By Samuel Johnson

So far is it from being true that men are naturally equal, that no two people can be half an hour together, but one shall acquire an evident superiority over the other.

By Samuel Johnson

Round numbers are always false.

By Samuel Johnson

Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.

By Samuel Johnson

Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

By Samuel Johnson

Prepare for death, if here at night you roam, and sign your will before you sup from home.

By Samuel Johnson

Nobody can write the life of a man but those who have eat and drunk and lived in social intercourse with him.

By Samuel Johnson

Knowledge always demands increase; it is like fire, which must first be kindled by some external agent, but will afterwards always propagate itself.

By Samuel Johnson

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.

By Samuel Johnson

I will be conquered; I will not capitulate.

By Samuel Johnson

I had rather see the portrait of a dog that I know, than all the allegorical paintings they can show me in the world.

By Samuel Johnson

I hate mankind, for I think of myself as one of the best of them, and I know how bad I am.

By Samuel Johnson

I am always sorry when any language is lost, because languages are the pedigrees of nations.

By Samuel Johnson

Few enterprises of great labor or hazard would be undertaken if we had not the power of magnifying the advantages we expect from them.

By Samuel Johnson

Distance has the same effect on the mind as on the eye.

By Samuel Johnson

Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous mind.

By Samuel Johnson

Worth seeing? Yes; but not worth going to see.

By Samuel Johnson

Where grief is fresh, any attempt to divert it only irritates.

By Samuel Johnson

Where secrecy or mystery begins, vice or roguery is not far off.

By Samuel Johnson

While grief is fresh, every attempt to divert only irritates. You must wait till grief be digested, and then amusement will dissipate the remains of it.

By Samuel Johnson