Top 25 Quotes by Samuel Johnson of 1744 - Page 11

Idleness and timidity often despair without being overcome, and forbear attempts for fear of being defeated; and we may promote the invigoration of faint endeavors, by showing what has already been performed.

Idleness and timidity often despair without being overcome, and forbear attempts for fear of being defeated; and we may promote the invigoration of faint endeavors, by showing what has already been performed.

Samuel Johnson

Despair, Overcoming, May

Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1857). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With an Essay on His Life and Genius”, p.133

What I gained by being in France was learning to be better satisfied with my own country.

Samuel Johnson

Country, France, Satisfied

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson, Edmond Malone (1824). “The life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D., comprehending an account of his studies, and numerous works, in chronological order: a series of his epistolary correspondence and conversations with many eminent persons; and various original pieces of his composition, never before published; the whole exhibiting a view of literature and literary men in Great Britain, for near half a century during which he flourished”, p.338

A generous and elevated mind is distinguished by nothing more certainly than an eminent degree of curiosity.

Samuel Johnson

Curiosity, Mind, Degrees

Dedication of his English translation of Fr. J. Lobo's 'Voyage to Abyssinia' (1735), signed 'the editor' but attributed to Johnson in James Boswell 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' (1791) vol. 1, p. 89 (1734)

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

Samuel Johnson

Doctrine, Censorship, Members

"The Table Talk of Dr. Johnson: Comprising Opinions and Anecdotes of Life and Literature, Men, Manners, and Morals".

There will always be a part, and always a very large part of every community, that have no care but for themselves, and whose care for themselves reaches little further than impatience of immediate pain, and eagerness for the nearest good.

Samuel Johnson

Pain, Community, Care

Samuel Johnson (1825). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.”, p.228

There is no crime more infamous than the violation of truth. It is apparent that men can be social beings no longer than they believe each other. When speech is employed only as the vehicle of falsehood, every man must disunite himself from others, inhabit his own cave and seek prey only for himself.

Samuel Johnson

Believe, Men, Society

Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1834). “Murphy's essay. The rambler. The adventurer. The idler. Rasselas. Tales of the imagination. Letters. Irene. Miscellaneous poems”, p.375

As he that lives longest lives but a little while, every man may be certain that he has no time to waste. The duties of life are commensurate to its duration; and every day brings its task, which, if neglected, is doubled on the morrow.

Samuel Johnson

Men, Tasks, May

Samuel Johnson, Elizabeth Carter, Samuel Richardson, Catherine Talbot (1825). “The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752”, p.124

The highest panegyric, therefore, that private virtue can receive, is the praise of servants.

Samuel Johnson

Praise, Virtue, Servant

Samuel Johnson, Elizabeth Carter, Samuel Richardson, Catherine Talbot (1825). “The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752”, p.119

Don't think of retiring from the world until the world will be sorry that you retire. I hate a fellow whom pride or cowardice or laziness drive into a corner, and who does nothing when he is there but sit and growl. Let him come out as I do, and bark.

Samuel Johnson

Life, Retirement, Sorry

On Jeremiah Markland, in James Boswell 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' (1791) vol. 4, p. 161, n. 3 (10 October 1782)

We have less reason to be surprised or offended when we find others differ from us in opinion, because we very often differ from ourselves.

Samuel Johnson

Opinion, Reason, Offended

Samuel Johnson (1968). “Essays from the Rambler, Adventurer, and Idler”, p.251, Yale University Press

Judgment is forced upon us by experience

Samuel Johnson

Judgement, Judgment

Samuel Johnson (1804). “The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland: And a Criticism on Their Works”, p.502

The supreme end of education is expert discernment in all things-the power to tell the good from the bad, the genuine from the counterfeit, and to prefer the good and the genuine to the bad and the counterfeit.

Samuel Johnson

Graduation, Education, Teaching

A person loves to review his own mind. That is the use of a diary, or journal.

Samuel Johnson

Mind, Diaries, Use

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson, Edmond Malone (1824). “The life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D., comprehending an account of his studies, and numerous works, in chronological order: a series of his epistolary correspondence and conversations with many eminent persons; and various original pieces of his composition, never before published; the whole exhibiting a view of literature and literary men in Great Britain, for near half a century during which he flourished”, p.221

Guilt once harbored in the conscious breast, intimidates the brave, degrades the great.

Samuel Johnson

Brave, Guilt, Intimidating

Resentment is a union of sorrow with malignity; a combination of a passion which all endeavor to avoid with a passion which all concur to detest.

Samuel Johnson

Passion, Sorrow, Unions

Samuel Johnson (1761). “The Rambler: In Four Volumes”, p.124

While an author is yet living, we estimate his powers by his worst performance; and when he is dead, we rate him by his best.

Samuel Johnson

Writing, Worst, Rate

The Plays of William Shakespeare preface (1765)

Repentance, however difficult to be practiced, is, if it be explained without superstition, easily understood. Repentance is the relinquishment of any practice from the conviction that it has offended God.

Samuel Johnson

Practice, Superstitions, Conviction

Samuel Johnson (1851). “The beauties of Johnson: choice selections from his works”, p.143

How small of all that human hearts endure, That part which laws or kings can cause or cure! Still to ourselves in every place consigned, Our own felicity we make or find. With secret course, which no loud storms annoy, Glides the smooth current of domestic joy.

Samuel Johnson

Kings, Heart, Law

Lines added to Oliver Goldsmith's The Traveller (1764)

There is certainly no greater happiness than to be able to look back on a life usefully and virtuously employed, to trace our own progress in existence, by such tokens as excite neither shame nor sorrow.

Samuel Johnson

Memories, Sorrow, Progress

Samuel Johnson, Hester Lynch Piozzi, James Boswell (1804). “The beauties of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: consisting of maxims and observations, moral, critical, and miscellaneous: to which are now added biographical anecdotes of the doctor, selected from the works of Mrs. Piozzi;--his Life, recently published by Mr. Boswell, and other authentic testimonies; also his will, and the sermon he wrote for the late Doctor Dodd”

Man's chief merit consists in resisting the impulses of his nature.

Samuel Johnson

Men, Temptation, Merit

Samuel Johnson (1966). “Johnsonian miscellanies”, Constable

Want of tenderness is want of parts, and is no less a proof of stupidity than depravity.

Samuel Johnson

Stupidity, Want, Proof

Such are the vicissitudes of the world, through all its parts, that day and night, labor and rest, hurry and retirement, endear each other; such are the changes that keep the mind in action: we desire, we pursue, we obtain, we are satiated; we desire something else and begin a new pursuit.

Samuel Johnson

Change, Retirement, Night

Samuel Johnson (1784). “The Rambler: In Four Volumes..”, p.35