Quotes by Johnson, Samuel

"It is the only sensual pleasure without vice."

Johnson, Samuel on music   

"The Irish are a fair people: They never speak well of one another."

Johnson, Samuel on nationalities and nationalism
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"The noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees is the high road that leads him to England."

Johnson, Samuel on nationalities and nationalism   

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

Johnson, Samuel on nationalities and nationalism   

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"He that thinks he can afford to be negligent is not far from being poor."

Johnson, Samuel on neglect   

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

Johnson, Samuel on night
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"The majority have no other reason for their opinions than that they are the fashion."

Johnson, Samuel on opinions   

"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."

Johnson, Samuel on originality
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"I found you essay to be good and original. However, the part that was original was not good and the part that was good was not original."

Johnson, Samuel on originality
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"Pleasure that is obtained by unreasonable and unsuitable cost, must always end in pain."

Johnson, Samuel on pain
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"He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man."

Johnson, Samuel on pain   

"Pain is less subject than pleasure to careless expression."

Johnson, Samuel on pain   

"In all evils which admits a remedy, impatience should be avoided, because it wastes the time and attention in complaints which, if properly applied, might remove the cause."

Johnson, Samuel on patience   

"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."

Johnson, Samuel on patriotism   

"Is not a patron, my lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help? The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labors, had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary, and cannot impart it; till I am known, and do not want it."

Johnson, Samuel on patronage   

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

Johnson, Samuel on patronage   

"Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance."

Johnson, Samuel on perseverance
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"Distance has the same effect on the mind as on the eye."

Johnson, Samuel on perspective   

"If I have said something to hurt a man once, I shall not get the better of this by saying many things to please him."

Johnson, Samuel on persuasion   

"If he really thinks there is no distinction between vice and virtue, when he leaves our houses let us count our spoons."

Johnson, Samuel on philosophers and philosophy   

"A wicked fellow is the most pious when he takes to it. He'll beat you all at piety."

Johnson, Samuel on piety   

"Piety practiced in solitude, like the flower that blooms in the desert, may give its fragrance to the winds of heaven, and delight those unbodied spirits that survey the works of God and the actions of men; but it bestows no assistance upon earthly beings, and however free from taints of impurity, yet wants the sacred splendor of beneficence."

Johnson, Samuel on piety   

"If a madman were to come into this room with a stick in his hand, no doubt we should pity the state of his mind; but our primary consideration would be to take care of ourselves. We should knock him down first, and pity him afterwards."

Johnson, Samuel on pity   

"Many things difficult in design prove easy in performance."

Johnson, Samuel on planning   

"Life must be filled up, and the man who is not capable of intellectual pleasures must content himself with such as his senses can afford."

Johnson, Samuel on plays   

"Pleasure is very seldom found where it is sought. Our brightest blazes are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks."

Johnson, Samuel on pleasure   

"If pleasure was not followed by pain, who would forbear it?"

Johnson, Samuel on pleasure   

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"No man is a hypocrite in his pleasures."

Johnson, Samuel on pleasure   

"Players, Sir! I look on them as no better than creatures set upon tables and joint stools to make faces and produce laughter, like dancing dogs."

Johnson, Samuel on acting and actors   

"No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money."

Johnson, Samuel on art   

"They that have grown old in a single state are generally found to be morose, fretful and captious; tenacious of their own practices and maxims; soon offended by contradiction or negligence; and impatient of any association but with those that will watch their nod, and submit themselves to unlimited authority."

Johnson, Samuel on bachelor   

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"Politics are now nothing more than means of rising in the world. With this sole view do men engage in politics, and their whole conduct proceeds upon it."

Johnson, Samuel on politics   

"I had rather see the portrait of a dog that I know, than all the allegorical paintings they can show me in the world."

Johnson, Samuel on portraits   

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"This mournful truth is everywhere confessed, slow rises worth by poverty depressed."

Johnson, Samuel on poverty and the poor   

"Poverty is often concealed in splendor, and often in extravagance. It is the task of many people to conceal their neediness from others. Consequently they support themselves by temporary means, and everyday is lost in contriving for tomorrow."

Johnson, Samuel on poverty and the poor   

"Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it makes some virtues impracticable, and others extremely difficult."

Johnson, Samuel on poverty and the poor   

"It is the great privilege of poverty to be happy and yet unenvied, to be healthy with physic, secure without a guard, and to obtain from the bounty of nature what the great and wealthy are compelled to procure by the help of art."

Johnson, Samuel on poverty and the poor   

"Nature makes us poor only when we want necessaries, but custom gives the name of poverty to the want of superfluities."

Johnson, Samuel on poverty and the poor   

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"He who praises everybody, praises nobody."

Johnson, Samuel on praise   

"The real satisfaction which praise can afford, is when what is repeated aloud agrees with the whispers of conscience, by showing us that we have not endeavored to deserve well in vain."

Johnson, Samuel on praise