Samuel Johnson, also known as Dr. Johnson, was born on September 18, 1709, in the United Kingdom. He was a lexicographer, biographer, playwright, poet, essayist, and English critic. He was also considered one of the 18th century's prominent figures. May these Samuel Johnson quotes about life offer you insight into his ideals and beliefs, helping you turn your life around for the better.
1. “The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.” – Samuel Johnson
2. “The true art of memory is the art of attention.” – Samuel Johnson
3. “He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts.” – Samuel Johnson
4. “If a man talks of his misfortunes there is something in them that is not disagreeable to him; for where there is nothing but pure misery there never is any recourse to the mention of it.” – Samuel Johnson
5. “He that reads and grows no wiser seldom suspects his own deficiency, but complains of hard words and obscure sentences.” – Samuel Johnson
6. “When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.” – Samuel Johnson
7. “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.” – Samuel Johnson
8. “The happiest conversation is that of which nothing is distinctly remembered, but a general effect of pleasing impression.” – Samuel Johnson
9. “It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust.” – Samuel Johnson
-min.jpg "Famous quotes and sayings by Samuel Johnson")
10. “Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous mind.” – Samuel Johnson
11. “No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money.” – Samuel Johnson
12. “Advice is seldom welcome. Those who need it most, like it least.” – Samuel Johnson
13. “Every man wishes to be wise, and they who cannot be wise are almost always cunning.” – Samuel Johnson
14. “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” – Samuel Johnson
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15. “Language is the dress of thought.” – Samuel Johnson
16. “Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.” – Samuel Johnson
17. “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing; it only hastens fools to rush in where angels fear to tread.” – Samuel Johnson
18. “You may abuse a tragedy, though you cannot write one. You may scold a carpenter who has made you a bad table, though you cannot make a table. It is not your trade to make tables.” – Samuel Johnson
19. “Liberty is, to the lowest rank of every nation, little more than the choice of working or starving.” – Samuel Johnson
-min.jpg "Famous quotes and sayings by Samuel Johnson")
20. “He who praises everybody, praises nobody.” – Samuel Johnson
21. “A man of genius has been seldom ruined but by himself.” – Samuel Johnson
22. “When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.” – Samuel Johnson
23. “Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last.” – Samuel Johnson
24. “What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.” – Samuel Johnson
-min.jpg "Famous quotes and sayings by Samuel Johnson")
25. “The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.” – Samuel Johnson
26. “Love is the wisdom of the fool and the folly of the wise.” – Samuel Johnson
27. “Fraud and falsehood only dread examination. Truth invites it.” – Samuel Johnson
28. “Your levellers wish to level down as far as themselves; but they cannot bear levelling up to themselves.” – Samuel Johnson
29. “While an author is yet living we estimate his powers by his worst performance, and when he is dead we rate them by his best.” – Samuel Johnson
30. “Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.” – Samuel Johnson
More Best Samuel Johnson Quotes
31. “Courage is the greatest of all virtues, because if you haven't courage, you may not have an opportunity to use any of the others.” – Samuel Johnson
32. “The really happy woman is the one who can enjoy the scenery when she has to take a detour. Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but rather a manner of traveling.” – Samuel Johnson
33. “There are minds so impatient of inferiority that their gratitude is a species of revenge, and they return benefits, not because recompense is a pleasure, but because obligation is a pain.” – Samuel Johnson
34. “To strive with difficulties, and to conquer them, is the highest human felicity.” – Samuel Johnson
35. “We are all prompted by the same motives, all deceived by the same fallacies, all animated by hope, obstructed by danger, entangled by desire, and seduced by pleasure.” – Samuel Johnson
36. “Hope is itself a species of happiness, and, perhaps, the chief happiness which this world affords.” – Samuel Johnson
37. “He that will enjoy the brightness of sunshine, must quit the coolness of the shade.” – Samuel Johnson
38. “Prejudice is a great time-saver. You can form opinions without having to get the facts. Prejudice not being founded on reason cannot be removed by argument.” – Samuel Johnson
39. “The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope.” – Samuel Johnson
40. “Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.” – Samuel Johnson
41. “When once the forms of civility are violated, there remains little hope of return to kindness or decency.” – Samuel Johnson
42. “If you are idle, be not solitary; if you are solitary, be not idle.” – Samuel Johnson
43. “Almost every man wastes part of his life attempting to display qualities which he does not possess.” – Samuel Johnson
44. “The future is purchased by the present.” – Samuel Johnson
45. “No man ever yet became great by imitation.” – Samuel Johnson
46. “No man can taste the fruits of autumn while he is delighting his scent with the flowers of spring.” – Samuel Johnson
47. “Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not.” – Samuel Johnson
48. “Whoever envies another confesses his superiority.” – Samuel Johnson
49. “Bachelors have consciences, married men have wives.” – Samuel Johnson
50. “All knowledge is of itself of some value. There is nothing so minute or inconsiderable that I would not rather know it than not.” – Samuel Johnson
Share these Famous Quotes from Samuel Johnson with your friends, family, and loved ones to inspire them as well.
2. “The true art of memory is the art of attention.” – Samuel Johnson
3. “He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts.” – Samuel Johnson
4. “If a man talks of his misfortunes there is something in them that is not disagreeable to him; for where there is nothing but pure misery there never is any recourse to the mention of it.” – Samuel Johnson
5. “He that reads and grows no wiser seldom suspects his own deficiency, but complains of hard words and obscure sentences.” – Samuel Johnson
6. “When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.” – Samuel Johnson
7. “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.” – Samuel Johnson
8. “The happiest conversation is that of which nothing is distinctly remembered, but a general effect of pleasing impression.” – Samuel Johnson
9. “It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust.” – Samuel Johnson
11. “No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money.” – Samuel Johnson
12. “Advice is seldom welcome. Those who need it most, like it least.” – Samuel Johnson
13. “Every man wishes to be wise, and they who cannot be wise are almost always cunning.” – Samuel Johnson
14. “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” – Samuel Johnson
16. “Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.” – Samuel Johnson
17. “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing; it only hastens fools to rush in where angels fear to tread.” – Samuel Johnson
18. “You may abuse a tragedy, though you cannot write one. You may scold a carpenter who has made you a bad table, though you cannot make a table. It is not your trade to make tables.” – Samuel Johnson
19. “Liberty is, to the lowest rank of every nation, little more than the choice of working or starving.” – Samuel Johnson
21. “A man of genius has been seldom ruined but by himself.” – Samuel Johnson
22. “When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.” – Samuel Johnson
23. “Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last.” – Samuel Johnson
24. “What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.” – Samuel Johnson
26. “Love is the wisdom of the fool and the folly of the wise.” – Samuel Johnson
27. “Fraud and falsehood only dread examination. Truth invites it.” – Samuel Johnson
28. “Your levellers wish to level down as far as themselves; but they cannot bear levelling up to themselves.” – Samuel Johnson
29. “While an author is yet living we estimate his powers by his worst performance, and when he is dead we rate them by his best.” – Samuel Johnson
30. “Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.” – Samuel Johnson
More Best Samuel Johnson Quotes
31. “Courage is the greatest of all virtues, because if you haven't courage, you may not have an opportunity to use any of the others.” – Samuel Johnson
32. “The really happy woman is the one who can enjoy the scenery when she has to take a detour. Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but rather a manner of traveling.” – Samuel Johnson
33. “There are minds so impatient of inferiority that their gratitude is a species of revenge, and they return benefits, not because recompense is a pleasure, but because obligation is a pain.” – Samuel Johnson
34. “To strive with difficulties, and to conquer them, is the highest human felicity.” – Samuel Johnson
35. “We are all prompted by the same motives, all deceived by the same fallacies, all animated by hope, obstructed by danger, entangled by desire, and seduced by pleasure.” – Samuel Johnson
36. “Hope is itself a species of happiness, and, perhaps, the chief happiness which this world affords.” – Samuel Johnson
37. “He that will enjoy the brightness of sunshine, must quit the coolness of the shade.” – Samuel Johnson
38. “Prejudice is a great time-saver. You can form opinions without having to get the facts. Prejudice not being founded on reason cannot be removed by argument.” – Samuel Johnson
39. “The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope.” – Samuel Johnson
40. “Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.” – Samuel Johnson
41. “When once the forms of civility are violated, there remains little hope of return to kindness or decency.” – Samuel Johnson
42. “If you are idle, be not solitary; if you are solitary, be not idle.” – Samuel Johnson
43. “Almost every man wastes part of his life attempting to display qualities which he does not possess.” – Samuel Johnson
44. “The future is purchased by the present.” – Samuel Johnson
45. “No man ever yet became great by imitation.” – Samuel Johnson
46. “No man can taste the fruits of autumn while he is delighting his scent with the flowers of spring.” – Samuel Johnson
47. “Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not.” – Samuel Johnson
48. “Whoever envies another confesses his superiority.” – Samuel Johnson
49. “Bachelors have consciences, married men have wives.” – Samuel Johnson
50. “All knowledge is of itself of some value. There is nothing so minute or inconsiderable that I would not rather know it than not.” – Samuel Johnson
Share these Famous Quotes from Samuel Johnson with your friends, family, and loved ones to inspire them as well.