Samuel Johnson Quotes

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

Rather, Show, Dog

In order that all men may be taught to speak the truth, it is necessary that all likewise should learn to hear it.
Samuel Johnson

Men, Truth, May

It is a most mortifying reflection for a man to consider what he has done, compared to what he might have done.
Samuel Johnson

Done, Reflection, Might

It is better that some should be unhappy rather than that none should be happy, which would be the case in a general state of equality.
Samuel Johnson

Equality, Happy, Rather

It is better to live rich than to die rich.
Samuel Johnson

Live, Die, Rich

No man was ever great by imitation.
Samuel Johnson

Great, Imitation

Nothing is more hopeless than a scheme of merriment.
Samuel Johnson

Nothing, Hopeless, Merriment

Paradise Lost is a book that, once put down, is very hard to pick up again.
Samuel Johnson

Book, Hard, Lost

The feeling of friendship is like that of being comfortably filled with roast beef; love, like being enlivened with champagne.
Samuel Johnson

Love, Friendship, Feeling

The future is purchased by the present.
Samuel Johnson

Future, Present, Purchased

The happiest part of a man's life is what he passes lying awake in bed in the morning.
Samuel Johnson

Life, Morning, Bed

The true art of memory is the art of attention.
Samuel Johnson

Art, True, Attention

The two offices of memory are collection and distribution.
Samuel Johnson

Two, Memory, Collection

The wretched have no compassion, they can do good only from strong principles of duty.
Samuel Johnson

Good, Strong, Compassion

There are some sluggish men who are improved by drinking; as there are fruits that are not good until they are rotten.
Samuel Johnson

Good, Men, Until

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

Hope, Learn, Diligence

When a man says he had pleasure with a woman he does not mean conversation.
Samuel Johnson

Woman, Mean, Pleasure

Without frugality none can be rich, and with it very few would be poor.
Samuel Johnson

Rich, Poor, Few

You can't be in politics unless you can walk in a room and know in a minute who's for you and who's against you.
Samuel Johnson

Politics, Against, Walk

A man may be so much of everything that he is nothing of anything.
Samuel Johnson

A man ought to read just as inclination leads him, for what he reads as a task will do him little good.
Samuel Johnson

Good, Him, Read

Adversity leads us to think properly of our state, and so is most beneficial to us.
Samuel Johnson

Adversity, State, Properly

All the arguments which are brought to represent poverty as no evil show it evidently to be a great evil.
Samuel Johnson

Great, Evil, Poverty

At seventy-seven it is time to be in earnest.
Samuel Johnson

Books that you carry to the fire, and hold readily in your hand, are most useful after all.
Samuel Johnson

Fire, After, Books

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Biography

Nationality: English

Type: Author

Born: September 18, 1709

Died: December 13, 1784

Links

Find on Amazon: Samuel Johnson

Cite this Page: Citation

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