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57 Notable Quotations By Samuel Johnson

Famous As: Writer
Born On: September 18, 1709
Died On: December 13, 1784
Born In: Lichfield, England
Died At Age: 75
Samuel Johnson was an English poet, lexicographer, playwright, essayist, author, moralist and editor. He lived in the 18th century and is often regarded as one of the most influential writers in the history of England. Johnson attended Pembroke College at the University of Oxford but due to financial difficulties he had to drop out and he became a teacher, before becoming the editor of a magazine in London. One of his early works is ‘Life of Mr. Richard Savage’. Later, he went on to write poems which were very well received by people. Some of his well-known poems include, ‘The Vanity of Human Flesh’, ‘London’, ‘Prologue at the Opening of the Theatre in Drury Lane’ and other works like ‘Lives of the Poets’, ‘Preface to the Plays of William Shakespeare’, ‘The History of Rasselas’, ‘Prince of Abissinia’ and ‘Miscellaneous Observations on the Tragedy of Macbeth’ among many others. He was quite rightly regarded as among the finest men of letters in English history; however one of his most important contributions to the English language was ‘A Dictionary of the English Language’, which he compiled over a period of 9 years and is regarded as one of his distinguished works. We bring to you a treasure trove of quotes that have been excerpted from his novels, books, essays, poems and writings. Read on to explore a compilation of some of the best known quotes by Samuel Johnson. 
Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last.

Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last.

Samuel Johnson
I hate mankind, for I think myself one of the best of them, and I know how bad I am.

I hate mankind, for I think myself one of the best of them, and I know how bad I am.

Samuel Johnson
Men know that women are an overmatch for them, and therefore they choose the weakest or the most ignorant. If they did not think so, they never could be afraid of women knowing as much as themselves.

Men know that women are an overmatch for them, and therefore they choose the weakest or the most ignorant. If they did not think so, they never could be afraid of women knowing as much as themselves.

Samuel Johnson
He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.

He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.

Samuel Johnson
A writer only begins a book. A reader finishes it.

A writer only begins a book. A reader finishes it.

Samuel Johnson
What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.

What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.

Samuel Johnson
Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.

Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.

Samuel Johnson
My congratulations to you, sir. Your manuscript is both good and original; but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good.

My congratulations to you, sir. Your manuscript is both good and original; but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good.

Samuel Johnson
Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.

Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.

Samuel Johnson
Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

Samuel Johnson
I never desire to converse with a man who has written more than he has read.

I never desire to converse with a man who has written more than he has read.

Samuel Johnson
There can be no friendship without confidence, and no confidence without integrity.

There can be no friendship without confidence, and no confidence without integrity.

Samuel Johnson
Whoever thinks of going to bed before twelve o'clock is a scoundrel.

Whoever thinks of going to bed before twelve o'clock is a scoundrel.

Samuel Johnson
Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.

Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.

Samuel Johnson
The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.

The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.

Samuel Johnson
I would rather be attacked than unnoticed. For the worst thing you can do to an author is to be silent as to his works.

I would rather be attacked than unnoticed. For the worst thing you can do to an author is to be silent as to his works.

Samuel Johnson
Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.

Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.

Samuel Johnson
It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust.

It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust.

Samuel Johnson
Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those whom we cannot resemble.

Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those whom we cannot resemble.

Samuel Johnson
Hell is paved with good intentions.

Hell is paved with good intentions.

Samuel Johnson
You raise your voice when you should reinforce your argument.

You raise your voice when you should reinforce your argument.

Samuel Johnson
The greatest part of a writer's time is spent in reading, in order to write: a man will turn over half a library to make one book.

The greatest part of a writer's time is spent in reading, in order to write: a man will turn over half a library to make one book.

Samuel Johnson
It is necessary to hope... for hope itself is happiness.

It is necessary to hope... for hope itself is happiness.

Samuel Johnson
Allow children to be happy in their own way, for what better way will they find?

Allow children to be happy in their own way, for what better way will they find?

Samuel Johnson
What we hope ever to do with ease, we must first learn to do with diligence.

What we hope ever to do with ease, we must first learn to do with diligence.

Samuel Johnson
Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information on it.

Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information on it.

Samuel Johnson
To keep your secret is wisdom, but to expect others to keep it is folly.

To keep your secret is wisdom, but to expect others to keep it is folly.

Samuel Johnson
Nothing [...] will ever be attempted, if all possible objections must be first overcome.

Nothing [...] will ever be attempted, if all possible objections must be first overcome.

Samuel Johnson
Read over your compositions, and wherever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.

Read over your compositions, and wherever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.

Samuel Johnson
Distance has the same effect on the mind as on the eye.

Distance has the same effect on the mind as on the eye.

Samuel Johnson
Sir, I did not count your glasses of wine, why should you number up my cups of tea?

Sir, I did not count your glasses of wine, why should you number up my cups of tea?

Samuel Johnson
This is one of the disadvantages of wine, it makes a man mistake words for thoughts.

This is one of the disadvantages of wine, it makes a man mistake words for thoughts.

Samuel Johnson
While grief is fresh, every attempt to divert only irritates. You must wait till it be digested, and then amusement will dissipate the remains of it.

While grief is fresh, every attempt to divert only irritates. You must wait till it be digested, and then amusement will dissipate the remains of it.

Samuel Johnson
A man ought to read just as inclination leads him; for what he reads as a task will do him little good.

A man ought to read just as inclination leads him; for what he reads as a task will do him little good.

Samuel Johnson
Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.

Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.

Samuel Johnson
Justice is my being allowed to do whatever I like. Injustice is whatever prevents my doing so.

Justice is my being allowed to do whatever I like. Injustice is whatever prevents my doing so.

Samuel Johnson
The two most engaging powers of an author are to make new things familiar and familiar things new.

The two most engaging powers of an author are to make new things familiar and familiar things new.

Samuel Johnson
The next best thing to knowing something is knowing where to find it.

The next best thing to knowing something is knowing where to find it.

Samuel Johnson
You can never be wise unless you love reading.

You can never be wise unless you love reading.

Samuel Johnson
A man may be so much of everything that he is nothing of anything.

A man may be so much of everything that he is nothing of anything.

Samuel Johnson
It is better to live rich than to die rich.

It is better to live rich than to die rich.

Samuel Johnson
He who waits to do a great deal of good at once will never do anything.

He who waits to do a great deal of good at once will never do anything.

Samuel Johnson
A man who uses a great many words to express his meaning is like a bad marksman who, instead of aiming a single stone at an object, takes up a handful and throws at it in hopes he may hit.

A man who uses a great many words to express his meaning is like a bad marksman who, instead of aiming a single stone at an object, takes up a handful and throws at it in hopes he may hit.

Samuel Johnson
If you are idle, be not solitary; if you are solitary be not idle.

If you are idle, be not solitary; if you are solitary be not idle.

Samuel Johnson
Men more frequently require to be reminded than informed.

Men more frequently require to be reminded than informed.

Samuel Johnson
Prejudice, not being founded on reason, cannot be removed by argument.

Prejudice, not being founded on reason, cannot be removed by argument.

Samuel Johnson
Love is the wisdom of the fool and the folly of the wise.

Love is the wisdom of the fool and the folly of the wise.

Samuel Johnson
Getting money is not all a man's business: to cultivate kindness is a valuable part of the business of life.

Getting money is not all a man's business: to cultivate kindness is a valuable part of the business of life.

Samuel Johnson
If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself alone. A man should keep his friendships in constant repair.

If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself alone. A man should keep his friendships in constant repair.

Samuel Johnson
We never do anything consciously for the last time without sadness of heart.

We never do anything consciously for the last time without sadness of heart.

Samuel Johnson
That we must all die, we always knew; I wish I had remembered it sooner.

That we must all die, we always knew; I wish I had remembered it sooner.

Samuel Johnson
The only end of writing is to enable readers better to enjoy life or better to endure it.

The only end of writing is to enable readers better to enjoy life or better to endure it.

Samuel Johnson
Tea's proper use is to amuse the idle, and relax the studious, and dilute the full meals of those who cannot use exercise, and will not use abstinence.

Tea's proper use is to amuse the idle, and relax the studious, and dilute the full meals of those who cannot use exercise, and will not use abstinence." (Essay on Tea, 1757.)

Samuel Johnson
As I know more of mankind I expect less of them, and am ready now to call a man a good man upon easier terms than I was formerly.

As I know more of mankind I expect less of them, and am ready now to call a man a good man upon easier terms than I was formerly.

Samuel Johnson
Life is not long, and too much of it must not pass in idle deliberation how it shall be spent.

Life is not long, and too much of it must not pass in idle deliberation how it shall be spent.

Samuel Johnson
In order that all men may be taught to speak truth, it is necessary that all likewise should learn to hear it.

In order that all men may be taught to speak truth, it is necessary that all likewise should learn to hear it.

Samuel Johnson
Mankind have a great aversion to intellectual labor; but even supposing knowledge to be easily attainable, more people would be content to be ignorant than would take even a little trouble to acquire it.

Mankind have a great aversion to intellectual labor; but even supposing knowledge to be easily attainable, more people would be content to be ignorant than would take even a little trouble to acquire it.

Samuel Johnson