1709-1784, British Author
As peace is the end of war, so to be idle is the ultimate purpose of the busy.
Samuel Johnson – [Idleness]
As the Spanish proverb says, ''He who would bring home the wealth of the Indies, must carry the wealth of the Indies with him.'' So it is in travelling; a man must carry knowledge with him, if he would bring home knowledge.
Samuel Johnson – [Travel and Tourism]
As to the rout that is made about people who are ruined by extravagance, it is no matter to the nation that some individuals suffer. When so much general productive exertion is the consequence of luxury, the nation does not care though there are debtors; nay, they would not care though their creditors were there too.
Samuel Johnson – [Extravagance]
At seventy-seven it is time to be in earnest.
Samuel Johnson – [Age and Aging]
Attention and respect give pleasure, however late, or however useless. But they are not useless, when they are late, it is reasonable to rejoice, as the day declines, to find that it has been spent with the approbation of mankind.
Samuel Johnson – [Respectability]
Avarice is generally the last passion of those lives of which the first part has been squandered in pleasure, and the second devoted to ambition. He that sinks under the fatigue of getting wealth, lulls his age with the milder business of saving it.
Samuel Johnson – [Greed]
Books that you carry to the fire, and hold readily in your hand, are most useful after all.
Samuel Johnson – [Books and Reading]
Bravery has no place where it can avail nothing.
Samuel Johnson – [Courage]
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.
Samuel Johnson – [Marriage]
Christianity is the highest perfection of humanity.
Samuel Johnson – [Christians and Christianity]
Claret is the liquor for boys; port for men; but he who aspires to be a hero must drink brandy.
Samuel Johnson – [Heroes and Heroism]
Classical quotation is the parole of literary men all over the world.
Samuel Johnson – [Quotations]
Composition is, for the most part, an effort of slow diligence and steady perseverance, to which the mind is dragged by necessity or resolution, and from which the attention is every moment starting to more delightful amusements.
Samuel Johnson – [Writers and Writing]
Count on it, if a person talks of their misfortune, there is something in it that is not disagreeable to them.
Samuel Johnson – [Misfortunes]
Courage is a quality so necessary for maintaining virtue, that it is always respected, even when it is associated with vice.
Samuel Johnson – [Courage]
Criticism is a study by which men grow important and formidable at very small expense. He whom nature has made weak, and idleness keeps ignorant, may yet support his vanity by the name of a critic.
Samuel Johnson – [Critics and Criticism]
Criticism, as it was first instituted by Aristotle, was meant as a standard of judging well.
Samuel Johnson – [Critics and Criticism]
Cruel with guilt, and daring with despair, the midnight murderer bursts the faithless bar; invades the sacred hour of silent rest and leaves, unseen, a dagger in your breast.
Samuel Johnson – [Murder]
Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous mind.
Samuel Johnson – [Curiosity]
Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last.
Samuel Johnson – [Curiosity]
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