Quote

What we read with inclination makes a much stronger impression. If we read without inclination, half the mind is employed in fixing the attention so there is but one half to be employed on what we read.

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
Read
Inclination
Makes
Employed
Without
Impression
Much
Stronger
Mind
Attention
Reading
Happiness
Half
Fixing

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Each change of many-colour'd life he drew, Exhausted worlds, and then imagin'd new.
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I would consent to have a limb amputated to recover my spirits
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Art hath an enemy called ignorance.
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Composition is for the most part an effort of slow diligence and steady perseverance, to which the mind is dragged by necessity or resolution, and from which the attention is every moment starting to more delightful amusements.
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Of the present state, whatever it be, we feel and are forced to confess the misery yet when the same state is again at a distance, imagination paints it as desirable.
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The coquette has companions, indeed, but no lovers,--for love is respectful and timorous and where among her followers will she find a husband?
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The end of writing is to instruct the end of poetry is to instruct by pleasing.
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From thee, great God, we spring, to thee we tend,- Path, motive, guide, original, and end.
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It is commonly observed, that when two Englishmen meet, their first talk is of the weather they are in haste to tell each other, what each must already know, that it is hot or cold, bright or cloudy, windy or calm.
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Who left nothing of authorship untouched, and touched nothing which he did not adorn. [Lat., Qui nullum fere scribendi genus non tetigit nullum quod tetigit non ornavit.]
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Babies do not want to hear about babies they like to be told of giants and castles.
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Our senses, our appetite, and our passions are our lawful and faithful guides in things that relate solely to this life.
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Life is but short no time can be afforded but for the indulgence of real sorry, or contests upon questions seriously momentous. Let us not throw away any of our days upon useless resentment, or contend who shall hold out longest in stubborn malignity. It is best not to be angry and best, in the next place, to be quickly reconciled.
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Life protracted is protracted woe.
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Love is the wisdom of the fool and the folly of the wise.
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Some people wave their dogmatic thinking until their own reason is entangled.
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There is little peace or comfort in life if we are always anxious as to future events. He that worries himself with the dread of possible contingencies will never be at rest.
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Labor's face is wrinkled with the wind, and swarthy with the sun.
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Being married to those sleepy-souled women is just like playing at cards for nothing: no passion is excited and the time is filled up. I do not, however, envy a fellow one of those honeysuckle wives for my part, as they are but creepers at best and commonly destroy the tree they so tenderly cling about.
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A vow is a snare for sin
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