Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson, often referred to as Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer. Johnson was a devout Anglican and committed Tory, and has been described as "arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history". He is also the subject of "the most famous single biographical work in the whole of literature," James Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionNon-Fiction Author
Date of Birth18 September 1709
Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.
Every quotation contributes something to the stability or enlargement of the language.
Beauty has often overpowered the resolutions of the firm, and the reasonings of the wise, roused the old to sensibility, and subdued the rigorous to softness
As the Spanish proverb says, ''He who would bring home the wealth of the Indies, must carry the wealth of the Indies with him.'' So it is in travelling; a man must carry knowledge with him, if he would bring home knowledge.
There is nothing so much seduces reason from vigilance as the thought of passing life with an amiable woman in marriage.
There is nothing noble about being superior to some other man. The true nobility is in being superior to you previous self.
When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford
Money and time are the heaviest burdens of life, and the unhappiest of all mortals are those who have more of either than they know how to use.
No greater felicity can genius attain than that of having purified intellectual pleasure, separated mirth from indecency, and wit from licentiousness
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.
Nothing can please many, and please long, but just representations of general nature. Particular manners can be known to few, and, therefore, few only can judge how nearly they are copied.
Revenge is the act of passion, vengeance is an act of justice.
Ridicule is a kind of gangrene, which if it seizes one part of a character corrupts all the rest.
Pleasure is very seldom found where it is sought. Our brightest blazes are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.