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
attention delightful diligence dragged effort mind moment necessity slow starting steady writers-and-writing
Composition is, for the most part, an effort of slow diligence and steady perseverance, to which the mind is dragged by necessity or resolution, and from which the attention is every moment starting to more delightful amusements.
certain curiosity permanent vigorous
Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous mind.
assemble companies conceive consist difficult entertainment evening man materials morning
To us, who are regaled every morning and evening with intelligence, and are supplied from day to day with materials for conversation, it is difficult to conceive how man can consist without a newspaper, or to what entertainment companies can assemble
advertising art cannot due easy masters moral near ought perfection propose public question trade whether
The trade of advertising is now so near perfection that it is not easy to propose any improvement. But as every art ought to be exercised in due subordination to the public good, I cannot but propose it as a moral question to these masters of the public ear, whether they do not sometimes play too wantonly with our passions.
cut easier short takes virtue wickedness
Wickedness is always easier than virtue, for it takes a short cut to everything.
bed clock thinks twelve whoever
Whoever thinks of going to bed before twelve o clock is a scoundrel.
comforts himself less man necessary supply
Marriage, Sir, is much more necessary to a man than to a woman; for he is much less able to supply himself with domestick comforts
doubt mouth open remain remove silent
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
add common falsehood heat lose position reach till truth
It is common for controversists, in the heat of disputation, to add one position to another till they reach the extremities of knowledge, where truth and falsehood lose their distinction
act conduct difficult hands low power wealth whom
It is difficult to conjecture, from the conduct of him whom we see in a low condition, how he would act if wealth and power were put into his hands
compared despised easy enjoy falsehoods hardened hear home listen mind opinion others power rather seeing seldom sitting state supported supposed talk temporary winning worth
It is easy to talk of sitting at home contented, when others are seeing or making shows. But not to have been where it is supposed, and seldom supposed falsely, that all would go if they could; to be able to say nothing when everyone is talking; to have no opinion when everyone is judging; to hear exclamations of rapture without power to depress; to listen to falsehoods without right to contradict, is, after all, a state of temporary inferiority, in which the mind is rather hardened by stubbornness, than supported by fortitude. If the world be worth winning let us enjoy it, if it is to be despised let us despise it by conviction. But the world is not to be despised but as it is compared with something better.
ahead beyond emerges grows inorganic organic stairs unlike walks
Man, unlike any other thing organic or inorganic in the universe, grows beyond his work, walks up the stairs of his concepts, emerges ahead of his accomplishments.
acquainted becomes considered easily man
Adversity has ever been considered the state in which a man most easily becomes acquainted with himself.
broken chains felt habit strong until weak
The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken