Samuel Johnson Quotes - Page 15

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The mathematicians are well acquainted with the difference between pure science, which has only to do with ideas, and the application of its laws to the use of life, in which they are constrained to submit to the imperfections of matter and the influence of accidents.

Samuel Johnson

Science, Law, Ideas

Samuel Johnson (1820). “The Rambler”, p.74

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Youth enters the world with very happy prejudices in her own favor. She imagines herself not only certain of accomplishing every adventure, but of obtaining those rewards which the accomplishment may deserve. She is not easily persuaded to believe that the force of merit can be resisted by obstinacy and avarice, or its luster darkened by envy and malignity.

Samuel Johnson

Believe, Adventure, Accomplishment

Samuel Johnson (1828). “The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752”, p.199

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Those who attempt nothing themselves think every thing easily performed, and consider the unsuccessful always as criminal.

Samuel Johnson

Thinking, Criminals, Modesty

Samuel Johnson, Elizabeth Carter, Samuel Richardson, Catherine Talbot (1825). “The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752”

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Sleep is a state in which a great part of every life is passed. No animal has yet been discovered, whose existence is not varied with intervals of insensibility; and some late philosophers have extended the empire of sleep over the vegetable world.

Samuel Johnson

Sleep, Animal, Vegetables

Samuel Johnson, Elizabeth Carter, Samuel Richardson, Catherine Talbot (1825). “The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752”

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Among the calamities of war may be numbered the diminution of the love of truth, by the falsehoods which interest dictates, and credulity encourages.

Samuel Johnson

Love, Courage, Truth

The Idler no. 30 (11 Nov. 1758)

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Good breeding consists in having no particular mark of any profession, but a general elegance of manners.

Samuel Johnson

Elegance, Manners, Mark

Samuel Johnson (1807). “Dr. Johnson's Table-talk: Containing Aphorisms on Literature, Life, and Manners, with Anecdotes of Distinguished Persons, Selected and Arranged from Mr. Boswell's Life of Johnson”, p.105

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I would rather be attacked than unnoticed. For the worst thing you can do to an author is to be silent as to his works.

Samuel Johnson

Art, Powerful, Criticism

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1888). “The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: Together with A Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides”

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The love of life is necessary to the vigorous prosecution of any undertaking

Samuel Johnson

Love, Life, Enthusiasm

1750-2 In The Rambler.

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Abuse is often of service. There is nothing so dangerous to an author as silence.

Samuel Johnson

Writing, Silence, Abuse

Samuel Johnson (1840). “The Life and Writings of Samuel Johnson...”, p.51

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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.

Samuel Johnson

Happiness, Believe, Long

Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1837). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: With an Essay on His Life and Genius /c by Arthur Murphy, Esq”, p.467

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It is advantageous to an author that his book should be attacked as well as praised. Fame is a shuttlecock. If it be struck at one end of the room, it will soon fall to the ground. To keep it up, it must be struck at both ends.

Samuel Johnson

Book, Fall, Writing

Samuel Johnson (1966). “Johnsonian miscellanies”, Constable

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A man will turn over half a library to make one book.

Samuel Johnson

Book, Writing, Men

Quoted in James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) (entry for 6 Apr. 1775)

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Subordination tends greatly to human happiness. Were we all upon an equality, we should have no other enjoyment than mere animal pleasure.

Samuel Johnson

Happiness, Animal, Equality

Samuel Johnson, James Boswell (1818). “The table talk of Samuel Johnson”, p.120

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It is thus that mutual cowardice keeps us in peace. Were one half of mankind brave and one cowards, the brave would be always beating the cowards. Were all brave, they would lead a very uneasy life; all would be continually fighting; but being all cowards, we go on very well.

Samuel Johnson

Fighting, Brave, Coward

In James Boswell 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' (1791) vol. 3, p. 326 (28 April 1778)

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Patron: One who countenances, supports or protects. Commonly a wretch who supports with insolence, and is repaid in flattery.

Samuel Johnson

Support, Flattery, Patronage

"A Dictionary of the English Language". Book by Samuel Johnson, 1755.

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There are few so free from vanity as not to dictate to those who will hear their instructions with a visible sense of their own beneficence.

Samuel Johnson

Vanity, Advice, Instruction

Samuel Johnson, Elizabeth Carter, Samuel Richardson, Catherine Talbot (1825). “The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752”, p.150

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Every reader should remember the diffidence of Socrates, and repair by his candour the injuries of time: he should impute the seeming defects of his author to some chasm of intelligence, and suppose that the sense which is now weak was once forcible

Samuel Johnson

Reading, Remember, Injury

Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1857). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With an Essay on His Life and Genius”, p.319

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It has long been observed, that an atheist has no just reason for endeavouring conversions; and yet none harass those minds which they can influence, with more importunity of solicitation to adopt their opinions. In proportion as they doubt the truth of their own doctrines, they are desirous to gain the attestation of another understanding: and industriously labour to win a proselyte, and eagerly catch at the slightest pretense to dignify their sect with a distinguished name.

Samuel Johnson

Atheist, Winning, Names

Samuel Johnson (1819). “The Beauties of Samuel Johnson: Consisting of Maxims and Observations, Moral, Critical, and Miscellaneous”, p.40

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A quibble is to Shakespeare what luminous vapours are to the traveller: he follows it at all adventures; it is sure to lead him out of his way and sure to engulf him in the mire.

Samuel Johnson

Adventure, Vapour, Way

'The Plays of William Shakespeare, with Notes' (1765) preface (Yale ed., p. 74)

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So many objections may be made to everything, that nothing can overcome them but the necessity of doing something.

Samuel Johnson

Political, Overcoming, May

"Johnson. History Of Rasselas, Prince Of Abyssinia, Ed. With Intr. And Notes By G.b. Hill".

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It is dangerous for mortal beauty, or terrestrial virtue, to be examined by too strong a light. The torch of Truth shows much that we cannot, and all that we would not, see.

Samuel Johnson

Strong, Light, Torches

Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1837). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: With an Essay on His Life and Genius /c by Arthur Murphy, Esq”, p.27

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There are few things that we so unwillingly give up, even in advanced age, as the supposition that we still have the power of ingratiating ourselves with the fair sex.

Samuel Johnson

Birthday, Sex, Giving Up

Samuel Johnson (2002). “A Johnson Sampler”, Non Pareil Books

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That all who are happy are equally happy is not true. A peasant and a philosopher may be equally satisfied, but not equally happy. A small drinking glass and a large one may be equally full, but the large one holds more than the small.

Samuel Johnson

Happiness, Drinking, Insperational

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1859). “The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: Including a Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides”, p.227

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Censure is willingly indulged, because it always implies some superiority: men please themselves with imagining that they have made a deeper search, or wider survey than others, and detected faults and follies which escape vulgar observation.

Samuel Johnson

Men, Advice, Faults

Samuel Johnson, Elizabeth Carter, Samuel Richardson, Catherine Talbot (1825). “The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752”, p.3

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He to whom many objects of pursuit arise at the same time, will frequently hesitate between different desires till a rival has precluded him, or change his course as new attractions prevail, and harass himself without advancing.

Samuel Johnson

Focus, Desire, Different

Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1857). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With an Essay on His Life and Genius”, p.209

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Born: September 18, 1709
Died: December 13, 1784
Occupation: Writer
Cite this Page: Citation

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