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

Samuel Johnson

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Samuel Johnson
Age: 75 †
Born: 1709
Born: September 18
Died: 1784
Died: December 13
Biographer
Bookseller
Essayist
Lexicographer
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Literary Critic
Literary Historian
Poet
Politician
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Lichfield
Staffordshire
Dr Johnson
Dr. Johnson
Great Moralist
Almost
Cannot
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Resemble
Arises
Absurdity
Imitation
Conduct
Arise

More quotes by Samuel Johnson

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Conjecture as to things useful, is good but conjecture as to what it would be useless to know, is very idle.
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When a Man is tried of London, he is tired of life.
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Unless a woman has an amorous heart, she is a dull companion.
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Let us take a patriot, where we can meet him and, that we may not flatter ourselves by false appearances, distinguish those marks which are certain, from those which may deceive for a man may have the external appearance of a patriot, without the constituent qualities as false coins have often lustre, though they want weight.
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The habit of looking on the bright side of every event is worth more than a thousand pounds a year.
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Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.
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We must consider how very little history there is--I mean real, authentic history. That certain kings reigned and certain battles were fought, we can depend upon as true but all the coloring, all the philosophy, of history is conjecture.
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I know not anything more pleasant, or more instructive, than to compare experience with expectation, or to register from time to time the difference between idea and reality. It is by this kind of observation that we grow daily less liable to be disappointed.
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The equity of Providence has balanced peculiar sufferings with peculiar enjoyments.
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Excise: A hateful tax levied upon commodities, and adjudged not by the common judges of property, but wretches hired by those to whom excise is paid.
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Care that is once enter'd into the breast Will have the whole possession ere it rest.
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No government power can be abused long. Mankind will not bear it.
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Great abilities are not requisite for an Historian for in historical composition, all the greatest powers of the human mind are quiescent.
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To wipe all tears from off all faces is a task too hard for mortals but to alleviate misfortunes is often within the most limited power: yet the opportunities which every day affords of relieving the most wretched of human beings are overlooked and neglected with equal disregard of policy and goodness.
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Is not a patron one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help?
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Being in a ship is being in a jail, with the chance of being drowned.
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Every man may be observed to have a certain strain of lamentation, some peculiar theme of complaint on which he dwells in his moments of dejection.
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His virtues walked their narrow round, Nor made a pause, nor left a void And sure the Eternal Master found The single talent well employed.
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Security will produce danger.
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Those authors who would find many readers, must endeavour to please while they instruct.
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