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We are long before we are convinced that happiness is never to be found, and each believes it possessed by others, to keep alive the hope of obtaining it for himself.

Samuel Johnson

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Samuel Johnson
Age: 75 †
Born: 1709
Born: September 18
Died: 1784
Died: December 13
Biographer
Bookseller
Essayist
Lexicographer
Linguist
Literary Critic
Literary Historian
Poet
Politician
Teacher
Translator
Writer
Lichfield
Staffordshire
Dr Johnson
Dr. Johnson
Great Moralist
Long
Believes
Believe
Convinced
Never
Alive
Happiness
Hope
Found
Keep
Obtaining
Others
Possessed

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That all who are happy are equally happy is not true. A peasant and a philosopher may be equally satisfied, but not equally happy. A small drinking glass and a large one may be equally full, but the large one holds more than the small.
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Books like friends, should be few and well-chosen.
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The ambition of superior sensibility and superior eloquence disposes the lovers of arts to receive rapture at one time, and communicate it at another and each labors first to impose upon himself and then to propagate the imposture.
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I never desire to converse with a man who has written more than he has read.
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Economy is the parent of integrity, of liberty, and of ease, and the beauteous sister of temperance, of cheerfulness and health.
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The heroes of literary history have been no less remarkable for what they have suffered than for what they have achieved.
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Whisky making is the art of making poison pleasant
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You may translate books of science exactly. ... The beauties of poetry cannot be preserved in any language except that in which it was originally written.
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The safe and general antidote against sorrow is employment.
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If the abuse be enormous, nature will rise up, and claiming her original rights, overturn a corrupt political system.
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Want of tenderness is want of parts, and is no less a proof of stupidity than depravity.
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As he that lives longest lives but a little while, every man may be certain that he has no time to waste. The duties of life are commensurate to its duration and every day brings its task, which, if neglected, is doubled on the morrow.
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I had done all that I could, and no Man is well pleased to have his all neglected, be it ever so little.
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I fly from pleasure, said the prince, because pleasure has ceased to please I am lonely because I am miserable, and am unwilling to cloud with my presence the happiness of others.
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We often need reminding even if we do not often need educating.
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A man is not obliged honestly to answer a question which should not properly be put.
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Nothing can be truly great which is not right.
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The mere power of saving what is already in our hands must be of easy acquisition to every mind and as the example of Lord Bacon may show that the highest intellect cannot safely neglect it, a thousand instances every day prove that the humblest may practise it with success.
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No degree of knowledge attainable by man is able to set him above the want of hourly assistance.
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An old friend never can be found, and nature has provided that he cannot easily be lost.
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