Samuel Johnson quotes - page 25

A family is a little kingdom, torn with factions and exposed to revolutions. (Samuel Johnson)
The whole of life is but keeping away the thoughts of death. View quote
Samuel Johnson
To hear complaints with patience, even when complaints are vain, is one of the duties of friendship. View quote
Samuel Johnson
When speculation has done its worst, two and two still make four. View quote
Samuel Johnson
Tomorrow is an old deceiver, and his cheat never grows stale. View quote
Samuel Johnson
Let him who desires to see others happy, make haste to give while his gift can be enjoyed, and remember that every moment of delay takes away something from the value of his benefaction. View quote
Samuel Johnson
Pleasure that is obtained by unreasonable and unsuitable cost, must always end in pain. View quote
Samuel Johnson
Security will produce danger. View quote
Samuel Johnson
Labor, if it were not necessary for existence, would be indispensable for the happiness of man. View quote
Samuel Johnson
He who endeavors to please must appear to be pleased. View quote
Samuel Johnson
It is our first duty to serve society. (Samuel Johnson)
It is very natural for young men to be vehement, acrimonious and severe. For as they seldom comprehend at once all the consequences of a position, or perceive the difficulties by which cooler and more experienced reasoners are restrained from confidence, they form their conclusions with great precipitance. Seeing nothing that can darken or embarrass the question, they expect to find their own opinion universally prevalent, and are inclined to impute uncertainty and hesitation to want of honesty, rather than of knowledge. View quote
Samuel Johnson
No degree of knowledge attainable by man is able to set him above the want of hourly assistance. View quote
Samuel Johnson
It was his peculiar happiness that he scarcely ever found a stranger whom he did not leave a friend but it must likewise be added, that he had not often a friend long without obliging him to become a stranger. View quote
Samuel Johnson
Solitude is dangerous to reason, without being favourable to virtue. . . . Remember that the solitary mortal is certainly luxurious, probably superstitious, and possibly mad. View quote
Samuel Johnson
They make a rout about universal liberty, without considering that all that is to be valued, or indeed can be enjoyed by individuals, is private liberty. View quote
Samuel Johnson
There is no kind of idleness by which we are so easily seduced as that which dignifies itself by the appearance of business. View quote
Samuel Johnson
A short letter to a distant friend is, in my opinion, an insult like that of a slight bow or cursory salutation -- a proof of unwillingness to do much, even where there is a necessity of doing something. View quote
Samuel Johnson
I am sorry I have not learned to play at cards. It is very useful in life it generates kindness and consolidates society. View quote
Samuel Johnson
There are innumerable questions to which the inquisitive mind can in this state receive no answer Why do you and I exist Why was this world created Since it was to be created, why was it not created sooner. View quote
Samuel Johnson
Parents and children seldom act in concert each child endeavours to appropriate the esteem or fondness of the parents, and the parents, with yet less temptation, betray each other to their children. (Samuel Johnson)
Sir, he throws away his money without thought and without merit. I do not call a tree generous that sheds its fruit at every breeze. View quote
Samuel Johnson
Many falsehoods are passing into uncontradicted history. View quote
Samuel Johnson
If I had no duties, and no reference to futurity, I would spend my life in driving briskly in a post-chaise with a pretty woman. View quote
Samuel Johnson
Where secrecy or mystery begins, vice or roguery is not far off. View quote
Samuel Johnson