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
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.
hate age despised
Age is rarely despised but when it is, contemptible.
hate men despise
You despise a man for avarice; but you do not hate him.
against either good loves please proof protesting rejoice signifies sit speaks true
What signifies protesting so against flattery! when a person speaks well of one, it must either be true or false, you know; if true, let us rejoice in his good opinion; if he lies, it is a proof at least that he loves more to please me, than to sit s
act finite human kindness possible pure
To act from pure benevolence is not possible for finite human beings, Human benevolence is mingled with vanity, interest, or some other motive.
arises contracted friendship loss loved melting mortals regard sharpest terms time whom
With regard to the sharpest and most melting sorrow, that which arises from the loss of those whom we have loved with tenderness, it may be observed, that friendship between mortals can be contracted on no other terms than that one must some time mou
quotation quotes stability
Every quotation contributes something to the stability or enlargement of the language.
beauty rigorous softness subdued
Beauty has often overpowered the resolutions of the firm, and the reasonings of the wise, roused the old to sensibility, and subdued the rigorous to softness
bring carry home knowledge man proverb spanish travel-and-tourism wealth
As the Spanish proverb says, ''He who would bring home the wealth of the Indies, must carry the wealth of the Indies with him.'' So it is in travelling; a man must carry knowledge with him, if he would bring home knowledge.
diligence few great impossible performed works
Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.
afford life london man tired
When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford
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
amiable life passing reason seduces vigilance woman
There is nothing so much seduces reason from vigilance as the thought of passing life with an amiable woman in marriage.
nobility noble previous superior true
There is nothing noble about being superior to some other man. The true nobility is in being superior to you previous self.