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
Nay, Madam, when you are declaiming, declaim; and when you are calculating, calculate.
This merriment of parsons is mighty offensive.
A cow is a very good animal in the field; but we turn her out of a garden.
It is not often that any man can have so much knowledge of another, as is necessary to make instruction useful.
I am not so lost in lexicography as to forget that words are the daughters of earth, and that things are the sons of heaven.
Every man naturally persuades himself that he can keep his resolutions, nor is he convinced of his imbecility but by length of time and frequency of experiment.
There are few minds to which tyranny is not delightful.
The truly strong and sound mind is the mind that can embrace equally great things and small.
It is wonderful when a calculation is made, how little the mind is actually employed in the discharge of any profession.
Among the calamities of war may be numbered the diminution of the love of truth, by the falsehoods which interest dictates, and credulity encourages.
Philips, whose touch harmonious could remove The pangs of guilty power and hapless love! Rest here, distress'd by poverty no more; Here find that calm thou gav'st so oft before; Sleep undisturb'd within this peaceful shrine, Till angels wake thee with a note like thine!
Men hate more steadily than they love.
Women can spin very well, but they cannot write a good book of cookery.
The finest landscape in the world is improved by a good inn in the foreground.