A. Johnson
A. Johnson
iron soul extravagance
Profuseness is a cruel and crafty demon, that gradually involves her followers in dependence and debt; that is, fetters them with irons that enter into their souls.
rejection topics common
Large offers and sturdy rejections are among the most common topics of falsehood.
flattery flattered
He that is much flattered soon learns to flatter himself.
kindness heart wish
It requires but little acquaintance with the heart to know that woman's first wish is to be handsome; and that, consequently, the readiest method of obtaining her kindness is to praise her beauty.
forgiveness forgiving thrones
Of him that hopes to be forgiven it is indispensably required that he forgive. It is, therefore, superfluous to urge any other motive. On this great duty eternity is suspended, and to him that refuses to practise it, the throne of mercy is inaccessible, and the Saviour of the world has been born in vain.
future looks littles
They who look but little into futurity, have, perhaps, the quickest sensation of the present.
pain believe animal
Gaiety is to good-humor as animal perfumes to vegetable fragrance. The one overpowers weak spirits, the other recreates and revives them. Gaiety seldom fails to give some pain; good-humor boasts no faculties which every one does not believe in his own power, and pleases principally by not offending.
genius firsts diligence
It is good sense applied with diligence to what was at first a mere accident, and which by great application grew to be called, by the generality of mankind, a particular genius.
crowds glory virtue
Glory, the casual gift of thoughtless crowds! Glory, the bribe of avaricious virtue!
vegetables offending spirit
Gayety is to good-humor as perfumes to vegetable fragrance: the one overpowers weak spirits; the other recreates and revives them.
grief exercise useless
The business of life summons us away from useless grief, and calls us to the exercise of those virtues of which we are lamenting our deprivation.
obscurity haste pernicious
One of the most pernicious effects of haste is obscurity.
hero remarkable has-beens
The heroes of literary history have been no less remarkable for what they have suffered than for what they have achieved.
regret war hero
Yet reason frowns in war's unequal game, Where wasted nations raise a single name; And mortgag'd states their grandsire's wreaths regret, From age to age in everlasting debt; Wreaths which at last the dear-bought right convey To rust on medals, or on stones decay.