Samuel Johnson Quotes about Evil - Page 2

To scatter praise or blame without regard to justice is to destroy the distinction of good and evil. Many have no other test of actions than general opinion; and all are so far influenced by a sense of reputation that

To scatter praise or blame without regard to justice is to destroy the distinction of good and evil. Many have no other test of actions than general opinion; and all are so far influenced by a sense of reputation that they are often restrained by fear of reproach, and excited by hope of honour, when other principles have lost their power.

Samuel Johnson

Evil, Justice, Principles

Samuel Johnson, Elizabeth Carter, Samuel Richardson, Catherine Talbot (1825). “The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752”, p.235

Let him go abroad to a distant country; let him go to some place where he is not known. Don't let him go to the devil, where he is known.

Samuel Johnson

Country, Evil, Let Him Go

In James Boswell 'Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides' (1785) 18 August 1773 (Boswell having asked if someone should commit suicide to avoid certain disgrace)

To grieve for evils is often wrong; but it is much more wrong to grieve without them. All sorrow that lasts longer than its cause is morbid, and should be shaken off as an attack of melancholy, as the forerunner of a greater evil than poverty or pain.

Samuel Johnson

Pain, Grieving, Evil

Samuel Johnson (2014). “The Letters of Samuel Johnson, Volume III: 1777-1781”, p.128, Princeton University Press

Sir, you must not neglect doing a thing immediately good from fear of remote evil; - from fear of its being abused.

Samuel Johnson

Happiness, Evil, Neglect

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

All severity that does not tend to increase good, or prevent evil, is idle.

Samuel Johnson

Happiness, Evil, Doe

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.412

The business of life is to go forward; he who sees evil in prospect meets it in his way, and he who catches it by retrospection turns back to find it. That which is feared may sometimes be avoided, but that which is regretted to-day may be regretted again to-morrow.

Samuel Johnson

Regret, Evil, May

Samuel Johnson, William Page (1860). “Life and Writings”, p.308

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

Samuel Johnson

Power, Evil, Littles

Samuel Johnson (1977). “Selected Poetry and Prose”, p.149, Univ of California Press

All this [wealth] excludes but one evil, poverty.

Samuel Johnson

Evil, Poverty, Wealth

"Life of Samuel Johnson". Book by James Boswell, 1777.

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

Samuel Johnson

Evil, Secret, Vices

Samuel Johnson (1948). “The wisdom of Dr. Johnson: being comments on life and moral precepts chosen from his writings”

Falsehoods of convenience or vanity, falsehoods from which no evil immediately visible ensues, except the general degradation of human testimony, are very lightly uttered, and once uttered are sullenly supported.

Samuel Johnson

Vanity, Evil, Deceit

Samuel Johnson (2009). “The Lives of the Poets: A Selection”, p.219, OUP Oxford

Samuel Johnson Quotes about Evil - Page 2

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