Top 25 Quotes by Samuel Johnson of 1744 - Page 18

Life protracted is protracted woe.

Woe, Longevity

'The Vanity of Human Wishes' (1749) l. 255

In this work are exhibited, in a very high degree, the two most engaging powers of an author. New things are made familiar, and familiar things are made new.

Samuel Johnson

Writing, Two, Degrees

Samuel Johnson (1787). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: Together with His Life, and Notes on His Lives of the Poets, by Sir John Hawkins, Knt. In Eleven Volumes ...”, p.122

Fear is implanted in us as a preservative from evil.

Samuel Johnson

Fear, Evil

Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1801). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.”, p.353

Riches seldom make their owners rich.

Samuel Johnson

Riches, Wealth, Rich

The triumph of hope over experience.

Samuel Johnson

Marriage, Funny Love, Hope

Quoted in James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) (entry for 1770)

The peculiar doctrine of Christianity is that of a universal sacrifice and perpetual propitiation.

Samuel Johnson

Sacrifice, Doctrine, Peculiar

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1859). “The Life of Samuel Johnson”, p.92

A voyage to the moon, however romantick and absurd the scheme may now appear, since the properties of air have been better understood, seemed highly probable to many of the aspiring wits in the last century

Samuel Johnson

Moon, Air, May

Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1825). “The works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: with Murphy's essay”, p.15

Consider what importance to society the chastity of women is. Upon that all the property in the world depends. We hang a thief for stealing a sheep; but the unchastity of a woman transfers sheep and farm and all from the right owner.

Samuel Johnson

Sheep, Thieves, World

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1786). “Boswell's Life of Johnson: Including Boswell's Journal of a Tour of the Hebrides, and Johnson's Diary of A Journey Into North Wales”, p.237

There is nothing, Sir, too little for so little a creature as man. It is by studying little things that we attain the great art of having as little misery and as much happiness as possible.

Samuel Johnson

Happiness, Art, Men

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1799). “Life of Johnson: Including Boswell's Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides and Johnson's Diary of a Journey Into North Wales”, p.502

He that hopes to look back hereafter with satisfaction upon past years must learn to know the present value of single minutes, and endeavour to let no particle of time fall useless to the ground.

Samuel Johnson

Fall, Past, Years

Samuel Johnson (1825). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With Murphy's Essay”, p.506

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

Samuel Johnson

Travel, Entertainment, Remember

Samuel Johnson, Hester Lynch Piozzi, James Boswell (1787). “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 Late Productions of Mrs. Piozzi, Mr. Boswell, ...”, p.264

Sir, sorrow is inherent in humanity. As you cannot judge two and two to be either five, or three, but certainly four, so, when comparing a worse present state with a better which is past, you cannot but feel sorrow. It is not cured by reason, but by the incursion of present objects, which bear out the past.

Samuel Johnson

Past, Two, Judging

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1786). “Boswell's Life of Johnson: including Boswell's Journal of a tour of the Hebrides, and Johnson's diary of A journey into North Wales”, p.72

Diffidence may check resolution and obstruct performance, but compensates its embarrassments by more important advantages; it conciliates the proud, and softens the severe; averts envy from excellence, and censure from miscarriage.

Samuel Johnson

Miscarriage, Envy, Excellence

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”, p.174

The use of travelling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.

Samuel Johnson

Inspirational, Nature, Travel

Samuel Johnson (1812). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, L. L. D.: In Twelve Volumes”, p.318

There lurks, perhaps, in every human heart a desire of distinction, which inclines every man first to hope, and then to believe, that Nature has given him something peculiar to himself.

Samuel Johnson

Being Yourself, Believe, Being Single

Samuel Johnson (1977). “Selected Poetry and Prose”, p.37, Univ of California Press

It is indeed certain, that whoever attempts any common topick, will find unexpected coincidences of his thoughts with those of other writers; nor can the nicest judgment always distinguish accidental similitude from artful imitation.

Samuel Johnson

Writing, Unexpected, Common

Samuel Johnson (1827). “The Rambler”, p.209

He that would be superior to external influences must first become superior to his own passions.

Samuel Johnson

Wisdom, Courage, Passion

Samuel Johnson (1825). “The works of Samuel Johnson [ed. by F.P. Walesby].”, p.304

A wise man is cured of ambition by ambition itself; his aim is so exalted that riches, office, fortune and favour cannot satisfy him.

Samuel Johnson

Life, Wise, Ambition

I am not so lost in lexicography as to forget that words are the daughters of earth, and that things are the sons of heaven.

Samuel Johnson

Daughter, Art, Son

A Dictionary of the English Language preface (1755)

A man who exposes himself when he is intoxicated, has not the art of getting drunk.

Samuel Johnson

Art, Men, Drunk

In James Boswell 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' (1791) vol. 3, p. 389 (24 April 1779)

By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show.

Samuel Johnson

Travel, World, London

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1859). “The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: Including a Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides”, p.429

No cause more frequently produces bashfulness than too high an opinion of our own importance. He that imagines an assembly filled with his merit, panting with expectation, and hushed with attention, easily terrifies himself with the dread of disappointing them, and strains his imagination in pursuit of something that may vindicate the veracity of fame, and show that his reputation was not gained by chance.

Samuel Johnson

Imagination, Expectations, Arrogance

Samuel Johnson, Elizabeth Carter, Samuel Richardson, Catherine Talbot (1825). “The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752”, p.275

Life, to be worthy of a rational being, must be always in progression; we must always purpose to do more or better than in time past.

Samuel Johnson

Past, Purpose, Progression

Samuel Johnson (1788). “Letters to and from the Late Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: To which are Added Some Poems Never Before Printed”, p.334

To have the management of the mind is a great art, and it may be attained in a considerable degree by experience and habitual exercise... Let him take a course of chemistry, or a course of rope-dance, or a course of any thing to which he is inclined at the time. Let him contrive to have as many retreats for his mind as he can, as many things to which it can fly from itself.

Samuel Johnson

Happiness, Art, Exercise

"The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D". Book by James Boswell, 1791.