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Those writers who lie on the watch for novelty can have little hope of greatness for great things cannot have escaped former observation.

Samuel Johnson

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Samuel Johnson
Age: 75 †
Born: 1709
Born: September 18
Died: 1784
Died: December 13
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Dr Johnson
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Sorrow is the mere rust of the soul. Activity will cleanse and brighten it.
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In a Man's Letters you know, Madam, his soul lies naked, his letters are only the mirrour of his breast.
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If one was to think constantly of death, the business of life would stand still
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Wheresoe'er I turn my view, All is strange, yet nothing new: Endless labor all along, Endless labor to be wrong: Phrase that Time has flung away Uncouth words in disarray, Trick'd in antique ruff and bonnet, Ode, and elegy, and sonnet.
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Being reproached for giving to an unworthy person, Aristotle said, I did not give it to the man, but to humanity.
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It is generally agreed, that few men are made better by affluence or exaltation.
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Among the numerous stratagems by which pride endeavors to recommend folly to regard, there is scarcely one that meets with less success than affectation, or a perpetual disguise of the real character by fictitious appearances.
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Whisky making is the art of making poison pleasant
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An epithet or metaphor drawn from nature ennobles art an epithet or metaphor drawn from art degrades nature.
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As the faculty of writing has chiefly been a masculine endowment, the reproach of making the world miserable has always been thrown upon the women.
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No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money.
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He who does not mind his belly, will hardly mind anything else.
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If a man is in doubt whether it would be better for him to expose himself to martyrdom or not, he should not do it. He must be convinced that he has a delegation from heaven.
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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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Reflect that life, like every other blessing, Derives its value from its use alone.
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Since life itself is uncertain, nothing which has life for its basis can boast much stability.
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The gloomy and the resentful are always found among those who have nothing to do or who do nothing.
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Fate wings, with every wish, the afflictive dart, Each gift of nature, and each grace of art.
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A man with a good coat upon his back meets with a better reception than he who has a bad one.
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There ambush here relentless ruffians lay, And here the fell attorney prowls for prey.
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