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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.

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
Firsts
Communicate
Rapture
First
Lovers
Eloquence
Time
Ambition
Impose
Criticism
Sensibility
Labor
Superior
Imposture
Upon
Superiors
Disposes
Art
Arts
Propagate
Another
Receive
Labors

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As any custom is disused, the words that expressed it must perish with it as any opinion grows popular, it will innovate speech in the same proportion as it alters practice.
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The world is like a grand staircase, some are going up and some are going down.
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Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those who we cannot resemble.
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Music is the only sensual pleasure without vice.
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Wine gives a man nothing... it only puts in motion what had been locked up in frost.
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But to the particular species of excellence men are directed, not by an ascendant planet or predominating humour, but by the first book which they read, some early conversation which they heard, or some accident which excited ardour and emulation.
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All truth is valuable, and satirical criticism may be considered as useful when it rectifies error and improves judgment he that refines the public taste is a public benefactor.
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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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Gayety is to good-humor as perfumes to vegetable fragrance: the one overpowers weak spirits the other recreates and revives them.
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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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Luxury, so far as it reaches the people, will do good to the race of people it will strengthen and multiply them. Sir, no nation was ever hurt by luxury for, as I said before it can reach but a very few.
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A man, doubtful of his dinner, or trembling at a creditor, is not much disposed to abstracted meditation, or remote enquiries.
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Nothing has tended more to retard the advancement of science than the disposition in vulgar minds to vilify what they cannot comprehend.
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Rain is good for vegetables, and for the animals who eat those vegetables, and for the animals who eat those animals.
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As peace is the end of war, so to be idle is the ultimate purpose of the busy.
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Few faults of style, whether real or imaginary, excite the malignity of a more numerous class of readers, than the use of hard words.
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When a man feel the reprehension of a friend seconded by his own heart, he is easily heated into resentment.
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Apologies are seldom of any use.
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Getting money is not all a man's business: to cultivate kindness is a valuable part of the business of life.
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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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