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
Sir, I have two cogent reasons for not printing any list of subscribers; - one, that I have lost all the names, - the other, that I have spent all the money
Money and time are the heaviest burdens of life, and the unhappiest of all mortals are those who have more of either than they know how to use.
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.
It is generally agreed, that few men are made better by affluence or exaltation.
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.
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.
Whatever you have spend less.
No money is better spent than what is laid out for domestic satisfaction.
Getting money is not all a man's business: to cultivate kindness is a valuable part of the business of life.
No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money.
A man who both spends and saves money is the happiest man, because he has both enjoyments.
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.
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.
There are few ways in which a man can be more innocently employed than in getting money.