Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson, often referred to as Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer. Johnson was a devout Anglican and committed Tory, and has been described as "arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history". He is also the subject of "the most famous single biographical work in the whole of literature," James Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionNon-Fiction Author
Date of Birth18 September 1709
Wit will never make a man rich, but there are places where riches will always make a wit.
The hapless wit has his labors always to begin, the call for novelty is never satisfied, and one jest only raises expectation of another.
Fate wings, with every wish, the afflictive dart, Each gift of nature, and each grace of art.
Mutual complacency is the atmosphere of conjugal love.
I believe it will be found that those who marry late are best pleased with their children; and those who marry early, with their partners.
You never find people laboring to convince you that you may live very happily upon a plentiful income.
Whosoever shall look heedfully upon those who are eminent for their riches will not think their condition such as that he should hazard his quiet, and much less his virtue, to obtain it, for all that great wealth generally gives above a moderate fortune is more room for the freaks of caprice, and more privilege for ignorance and vice, a quicker succession of flatteries, and a larger circle of voluptuousness.
When the desire of wealth is taking hold of the heart, let us look round and see how it operates upon than whose industry or fortune has obtained it. When we find them oppressed with their own abundance, luxurious without pleasure, idle without ease, impatient and querulous in themselves, and despised or hated by the rest of mankind, we shall soon be convinced that if the real wants of our condition are satisfied, there remains little to be sought with solicitude or desired with eagerness.
Wealth is nothing in itself; it is not useful but when it departs from us.
To purchase Heaven has gold the power? Can gold remove the mortal hour? In life can love be bought with gold? Are friendship's pleasures to be sold? No--all that's worth a wish--a thought, Fair virtue gives unbribed, unbought. Cease then on trash thy hopes to bind, Let nobler views engage thy mind.
Riches seldom make their owners rich.
Wasting a fortune is evaporation by a thousand imperceptible means.
The king who makes war on his enemies tenderly distresses his subjects most cruelly.
All unnecessary vows are folly, because they suppose a prescience of the future, which has not been given us.