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
Most vices may be committed very genteelly: a man may debauch his friend's wife genteelly: he may cheat at cards genteelly
It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.
A gentleman who had been very unhappy in marriage, married immediately after his wife died; it was the triumph of hope over experience.
A man of sense and education should meet a suitable companion in a wife. It is a miserable thing when the conversation can only be such as whether the mutton should be boiled or roasted, and probably a dispute about that.
A man is in general better pleased when he has a good dinner upon his table, than when his wife talks Greek.
Bachelors have consciences, married men have wives.
By taking a second wife he pays the highest compliment to the first, by showing that she made him so happy as a married man, that he wishes to be so a second time.
Nothing flatters a man as much as the happiness of his wife; he is always proud of himself as the source of it.
He who would have fine guests, let him have a fine wife.
A small country town is not the place in which one would choose to quarrel with a wife; every human being in such places is a spy.
No money is better spent than what is laid out for domestic satisfaction. A man is pleased that his wife is dressed as well as other people, and the wife is pleased that she is dressed.
A good wife is like the ivy which beautifies the building to which it clings, twining its tendrils more lovingly as time converts the ancient edifice into a ruin.
All knowledge is of itself of some value. There is nothing so minute or inconsiderable, that I would not rather know it than not. In the same manner, all power, of whatever sort, is of itself desirable. A man would not submit to learn to hem a ruffle, of his wife, or his wife's maid; but if a mere wish could attain it, he would rather wish to be able to hem a ruffle.
When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford