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
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
In order that all men may be taught to speak the truth, it is necessary that all likewise should learn to hear it.
To proceed from one truth to another, and connect distant propositions by regular consequences, is the great prerogative of man
This mournful truth is ev'rywhere confess'd,- Slow rises worth by poverty depress'd
The excellence of aphorisms consists not so much in the expression of some rare or abstruse sentiment, as in the comprehension of some useful truth in a few words.
Reason and truth will prevail at last
Truth, Sir, is a cow which will yield such people no more milk, and so they are gone to milk the bull.
I deny the lawfulness of telling a lie to a sick man for fear of alarming him; you have no business with consequences, you are to tell the truth.
A man may be very sincere in good principles, without having good practice.
This mournful truth is everywhere confessed, slow rises worth by poverty depressed.
In order that all men might be taught to speak truth, it is necessary that all likewise should learn to hear it.
It is more from carelessness about truth than from intentionally lying that there is so much falsehood in the world.
Among the innumerable mortifications which waylay human arrogance on every side may well be reckoned our ignorance of the most common objects and effects, a defect of which we become more sensible by every attempt to supply it. Vulgar and inactive minds confound familiarity with knowledge and conceive themselves informed of the whole nature of things when they are shown their form or told their use; but the speculatist, who is not content with superficial views, harasses himself with fruitless curiosity, and still, as he inquires more, perceives only that he knows less.
Truth, such as is necessary to the reputation of life, is always found where it is honestly sought.