The vanity of being known to be trusted with a secret is ge… - Samuel Johnson

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The vanity of being known to be trusted with a secret is generally one of the chief motives to disclose it; for, however absurd it may be thought to boast an honour by an act which shows that it was conferred without merit, yet most men seem rather inclined to confess the want of virtue than of importance.

Samuel Johnson

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vanity secrecy trustworthiness self-importance

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About Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson (18 September 1709 [7 September O.S.] – 13 December 1784) was a British author, linguist and lexicographer. He is often referred to as simply Dr. Johnson in the history of literature and is regarded as the greatest man of letters in English history.

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Alternative Names: Dr Johnson • Dr. Johnson • Great Moralist

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Originators like Samuel Johnson:

William Hazlitt Michel de Montaigne Jonathan Swift Joseph Addison Benjamin Franklin

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The end of writing is to instruct; the end of poetry is to instruct by pleasing.

To a poet nothing can be useless.

As it is necessary not to invite robbery by supineness, so it is our duty not to suppress tenderness by suspicion; it is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust.

The vanity of being known to be trusted with a secret is generally one of the chief motives to disclose it; for, however absurd it may be thought to … - Samuel Johnson

About Samuel Johnson

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