A. Johnson
A. Johnson
liars men evil
As the greatest liar tells more truths than falsehoods, so may it be said of the worst man, that he does more good than evil.
government evil ends
To prevent evil is the great end of government, the end for which vigilance and severity are properly employed.
pain health men
Every man that has felt pain knows how little all other comforts can gladden him to whom health is denied. Yet who is there does not sometimes hazard it for the enjoyment of an hour?
happiness idle
Nothing is more idle than to inquire after happiness, which nature has kindly placed within our reach.
happiness hours pleasure
So scanty is our present allowance of happiness that in many situations life could scarcely be supported if hope were not allowed to relieve the present hour by pleasures borrowed from the future.
happiness flower flames
Terrestrial happiness is of short duration. The brightness of the flame is wasting its fuel; the fragrant flower is passing away in its own odors.
happiness next hours
We seldom require more to the happiness of the present hour than to surpass him that stands next before us.
daughter son ideas
Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.
wish add may
I wish you would add an index rerum, that when the reader recollects any incident he may easily find it.
knowledge solitude may
The seeds of knowledge may be planted in solitude, but must be cultivated in public.
elegance manners breeding
Good breeding consists in having no particular mark of any profession, but a general elegance of manners.
should expected misfortunes
Misfortunes should always be expected.
oratory argument adversaries
Oratory is the power of beating down your adversary's arguments and putting better in their place.
past political politics
He that shall peruse the political pamphlets of any past reign will wonder why they were so eagerly read, or so loudly praised.