Samuel Johnson Quotes about Money

A man who both spends and saves money is the happiest man, because he has both enjoyments.

A man who both spends and saves money is the happiest man, because he has both enjoyments.

Money, Men, Happiest Man

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1866). “The Life of Samuel Johnson”, p.216

Getting money is not all a man's business: to cultivate kindness is a valuable part of the business of life.

Life, Money, Kindness

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.178

No money is better spent than what is laid out for domestic satisfaction.

Samuel Johnson

Money, Home, House

Samuel Johnson, James Boswell (1825). “The Table Talk of Dr. Johnson: Comprising Opinions and Anecdotes of Life and Literature, Men, Manners, and Morals”, p.41

No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money.

Samuel Johnson

Art, Money, Work

Quoted in James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) (entry for 5 Apr. 1776)

It is wonderful to think how men of very large estates not only spend their yearly income, but are often actually in want of money. It is clear, they have not value for what they spend.

Samuel Johnson

Money, Men, Thinking

Samuel Johnson (1807). “Dr. Johnson's Table-talk: Containing Aphorisms on Literature, Life, and Manners, with Anecdotes of Distinguished Persons, Selected and Arranged from Mr. Boswell's Life of Johnson”, p.163

Whatever you have spend less.

Samuel Johnson

Money

Quoted in James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) (letter to Boswell, 7 Dec. 1782)

Keeping accounts, sir, is of no use when a man is spending his own money, and has nobody to whom he is to account. You won't eat less beef today because you have written down what it cost yesterday.

Samuel Johnson

Money, Men, Yesterday

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1859). “The Life of Samuel Johnson”, p.126

A woman of fortune being used the handling of money, spends it judiciously; but a woman who gets the command of money for the first time upon her marriage, has such a gust in spending it, that she throws it away with great profusion.

Samuel Johnson

Money, Firsts, Spending

Samuel Johnson, James Boswell (1825). “The Table Talk of Dr. Johnson: Comprising Opinions and Anecdotes of Life and Literature, Men, Manners, and Morals”, p.39

Money confounds subordination.

Samuel Johnson

Money, Subordination

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.234

The commodiousness of money is indeed great; but there are some advantages which money cannot buy, and which therefore no wise man will by the love of money be tempted to forego.

Samuel Johnson

Wise, Money, Men

Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1838). “Works”, p.644

Let me smile with the wise, and feed with the rich.

Samuel Johnson

Smile, Wise, Money

In James Boswell 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' (1791) vol. 2, p. 79 (6 October 1769); responding to a line from Garrick's 'Florizel and Perdita' act 2, sc. 1: 'They smile with the simple, and feed with the poor'

There are few ways in which a man can be more innocently employed than in getting money.

Samuel Johnson

Money, Men, Way

In James Boswell 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' (1791) vol. 2, p. 323 (27 March 1775)

You cannot spend money in luxury without doing good to the poor. Nay, you do more good to them by spending it in luxury, than by giving it; for by spending it in luxury, you make them exert industry, whereas by giving it, you keep them idle.

Samuel Johnson

Money, Work, Luxury

Samuel Johnson, James Boswell (1825). “The Table Talk of Dr. Johnson: Comprising Opinions and Anecdotes of Life and Literature, Men, Manners, and Morals”, p.106

What makes all doctrines plain and clear? About two hundred pounds a year. And that which was proved true before, prove false again? Two hundred more.

Samuel Johnson

Money, Years, Two

Samuel Butler, Samuel Johnson (1822). “The Poems of Samuel Butler ...”, p.278

Sir, he throws away his money without thought and without merit. I do not call a tree generous that sheds its fruit at every breeze.

Samuel Johnson

Money, Tree, Merit

Samuel Johnson (2010). “Journey to the Hebrides: A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland & The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides”, p.468, Canongate Books