Top 15 Samuel Johnson Quotes

Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last.

I hate mankind, for I think myself one of the best of them, and I know how bad I am.

He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.

Men know that women are an overmatch for them, and therefore they choose the weakest or the most ignorant. If they did not think so, they never could be afraid of women knowing as much as themselves.

A writer only begins a book. A reader finishes it.

What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.

Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.

Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.

My congratulations to you, sir. Your manuscript is both good and original; but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good.

The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.

I never desire to converse with a man who has written more than he has read.

There can be no friendship without confidence, and no confidence without integrity.

Whoever thinks of going to bed before twelve o'clock is a scoundrel.

Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.