Quotes by Samuel Johnson

The man who is asked by an author what he thinks of his work is put to the torture and is not obliged to speak the truth.

Your manuscript is both good and original but the parts that are good are not original and the parts that are original are not good.

Much may be made of a Scotchman if he be caught young.

Men more frequently require to be reminded than informed.

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.

Truth will not afford sufficient food to their vanity; so they have betaken, themselves to errour. Truth, Sir, is a cow which will yield such people no more milk, and so they are gone to milk the bull.

What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence.

The mind is never satisfied with the objects immediately before it, but is always breaking away from the present moment, and losing itself in schemes of future felicity... The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope.

We are long before we are convinced that happiness is never to be found, and each believes it possessed by others, to keep alive the hope of obtaining it for himself.

Treating your adversary with respect is striking soft in battle.

The world is seldom what it seems; to man, who dimly sees, realities appear as dreams, and dreams realities.

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

Words are but the signs of ideas.

He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts.

He that will enjoy the brightness of sunshine, must quit the coolness of the shade.

I have always considered it as treason against the great republic of human nature, to make any mans virtues the means of deceiving him.

Nature has given women so much power that the law has very wisely given them little.

Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.

If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.

Prepare for death, if here at night you roam, and sign your will before you sup from home.