Samuel Johnson Quotes about Food

Cucumber should be well sliced, dressed with pepper and vinegar, and then thrown out.

Cucumber should be well sliced, dressed with pepper and vinegar, and then thrown out.

Food, Cucumbers, Vinegar

In James Boswell 'Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides' (1785) 5 October 1773

I am a hardened and shameless tea drinker, who has, for twenty years, diluted his meals with only the infusion of this fascinating plant; whose kettle has scarcely time to cool; who with tea amuses the evening, with tea solaces the midnight, and, with tea, welcomes the morning.

Samuel Johnson

Morning, Food, Tea Drinking

Review in the 'Literary Magazine' vol. 2, no. 13 (1757)

A man is in general better pleased when he has a good dinner upon his table, than when his wife talks Greek.

Samuel Johnson

Food, Men, Wife

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.205

A man seldom thinks with more earnestness of anything than he does of his dinner.

Samuel Johnson

Food, Thinking, Men

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.390

One of the disadvantages of wine is that it makes a man mistake words for thoughts.

Samuel Johnson

Mistake, Drinking, Food

"Life of Samuel Johnson". Book by James Boswell. Volume II, p. 659, 1791.

Abstinence is as easy to me as temperance would be difficult.

Samuel Johnson

Happiness, Food, Cooking

In William Roberts (ed.) 'Memoirs of the Life and Correspondence of Mrs Hannah More' (1834) vol. 1, p. 251

He who does not mind his belly, will hardly mind anything else.

Samuel Johnson

Motivational, Fitness, Food

In James Boswell 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' (1791) vol. 1, p. 467 (5 August 1763)

The feeling of friendship is like that of being comfortably filled with roast beef; love, like being enlivened with champagne.

Samuel Johnson

Love, Friendship, Food

Samuel Johnson, James Boswell (1825). “The Table Talk of Dr. Johnson: Comprising Opinions and Anecdotes of Life and Literature, Men, Manners, and Morals”, p.175

Oats. A grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people.

Samuel Johnson

Horse, Food, Oats

A Dictionary of the English Language (1755)

Some people have a foolish way of not minding, or pretending not to mind, what they eat. For my part, I mind my belly very studiously, and very carefully; for I look upon it, that he who does not mind his belly will hardly mind anything else.

Samuel Johnson

Food, Healing, Weight Loss

In James Boswell 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' (1791) vol. 1, p. 467 (5 August 1763)

Hunger is never delicate.

Samuel Johnson

Food, Cooking, Hunger

Samuel Johnson (1761). “The Rambler: In Four Volumes”, p.163

Before dinner men meet with great inequality of understanding.

Samuel Johnson

Food, Men, Understanding

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1866). “The Life of Samuel Johnson”, p.24

Wine gives a man nothing. It neither gives him knowledge nor wit; it only animates a man, and enables him to bring out what a dread of the company has repressed. It only puts in motion what had been locked up in frost.

Samuel Johnson

Drinking, Food, Wine

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1866). “The Life of Samuel Johnson”, p.220

A man, doubtful of his dinner, or trembling at a creditor, is not much disposed to abstracted meditation, or remote enquiries.

Samuel Johnson

Food, Men, Meditation

'The Lives of the English Poets' (1779-81) 'Collins'

Any of us would kill a cow rather than not have beef.

Samuel Johnson

Food, Cooking, Beef

Samuel Johnson (2010). “Journey to the Hebrides: A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland & The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides”, p.346, Canongate Books