Samuel Johnson Quotes

A fly, Sir, may sting a stately horse and make him wince; but one is but an insect, and the other is a horse still.

His <nowiki>[</nowiki>David Garrick's] death has eclipsed the gaiety of nations, and impoverished the public stock of harmless pleasure.

That he delights in the misery of others no man will confess, and yet what other motive can make a father cruel?

It is necessary to hope... for hope itself is happiness.

Love is the wisdom of the fool and the folly of the wise.

The greatest part of a writer's time is spent in reading in order to write.

Men more frequently require to be reminded than informed.

It is commonly observed, that when two Englishmen meet, their first talk is of the weather; they are in haste to tell each other, what each must already know, that it is hot or cold, bright or cloudy, windy or calm.

But it is evident, that these bursts of universal distress are more dreaded than felt; thousands and ten thousands flourish in youth, and wither in age, without the knowledge of any other than domestic evils, and share the same pleasures and vexa­tions, whether their kings are mild or cruel, whether the armies of their country pursue their enemies or retreat before them.

Nothing flatters a man as much as the happiness of his wife; he is always proud of himself as the source of it.

We never do anything consciously for the last time without sadness of heart.

There is one writer, and, perhaps, many who do not write, to whom the contraction of these pernicious privileges appears very dangerous, and who startle at the thoughts of England free, and America in chains. Children fly from their own shadow, and rhetoricians are frighted by their own voices. Chains is, undoubtedly, a dreadful word; but, perhaps, the masters of civil wisdom may discover some gradations between chains and anarchy. Chains need not be put upon those who will be restrained without them. This contest may end in the softer phrase of English superiority and American obedience.
We are told, that the subjection of Americans may tend to the diminution of our own liberties; an event, which none but very perspicacious politicians are able to foresee. If slavery be thus fatally contagious, how is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of negroes?

A jest breaks no bones.

The certainty that life cannot be long, and the probability that it will be much shorter than nature allows, ought to awaken every man to the active prosecution of whatever he is desirous to perform. It is true, that no diligence can ascertain success; death may intercept the swiftest career; but he who is cut off in the execution of an honest undertaking has at least the honour of falling in his rank, and has fought the battle, though he missed the victory.

Johnson observed, that "he did not care to speak ill of any man behind his back, but he believed the gentleman was an attorney."