A. Johnson
A. Johnson
amplify energy genius
Genius is that energy which collects, combines, amplifies, and animates.
wise eye prudent
Turn on the prudent ant thy heedful eyes. Observe her labors, sluggard, and be wise.
writing poet labor
...it will not always happen that the success of a poet is proportionate to his labor.
writing faults
Tediousness is the most fatal of all faults.
writing procrastination sisterhood
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
friendship wise silence
To let friendship die away by negligence and silence is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of the weary pilgrimage.
government long safe
No government power can be abused long. Mankind will not bear it.... There is a remedy in human nature against tyranny, that will keep us safe under every form of government.
wine people intellectual
He said that few people had intellectual resources sufficient to forgo the pleasures of wine. They could not otherwise contrive how to fill the interval between dinner and supper.
wine serious drink
He who aspires to be a serious wine drinker must drink claret.
scotland england high-road
The noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees is the high road that leads him to England.
uncertain stability bases
Since life itself is uncertain, nothing which has life for its basis can boast much stability.
sorrow useless hopeless
There is no wisdom in useless and hopeless sorrow.
laughter said pardon
What provokes your risibility, Sir? Have I said anything that you understand? Then I ask pardon of the rest of the company.
crowns half morality
The morality of an action depends on the motive from which we act. If I fling half a crown to a beggar with intention to break his head and he picks it up and buy victuals with it, the physical effect is good. But with respect to me the action is very wrong.