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There are occasions on which all apology is rudeness.

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
Rudeness
Apology
Occasions

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You cannot, by all the lecturing in the world, enable a man to make a shoe.
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Nature makes us poor only when we want necessaries, but custom gives the name of poverty to the want of superfluities.
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I am a hardened and shameless tea drinker, who has, for twenty years, diluted his meals with only the infusion of this fascinating plant whose kettle has scarcely time to cool who with tea amuses the evening, with tea solaces the midnight, and, with tea, welcomes the morning.
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Wealth is nothing in itself it is not useful but when it departs from us.
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He that embarks on the voyage of life will always wish to advance rather by the impulse of the wind than the strokes of the oar and many fold in their passage while they lie waiting for the gale.
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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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The uniform necessities of human nature produce in a great measure uniformity of life, and for part of the day make one place like another to dress and to undress, to eat and to sleep, are the same in London as in the country.
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Combinations of wickedness would overwhelm the world, by the advantage which licentious principles afford, did not those who have long practised perfidy grow faithless to each other.
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The maxim of Cleobulus, Mediocrity is best, has been long considered a universal principle, extending through the whole compass of life and nature. The experience of every age seems to have given it new confirmation, and to show that nothing, however specious or alluring, is pursued with propriety or enjoyed with safety beyond certain limits.
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Merriment is always the effect of a sudden impression. The jest which is expected is already destroyed.
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A soldier's time is passed in distress and danger, or in idleness and corruption.
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Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, And pause a while from learning to be wise. There mark what ills the scholar's life assail,- Toil, envy, want, the patron, and the jail.
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The poor and the busy have no leisure for sentimental sorrow.
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There are few minds to which tyranny is not delightful.
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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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I have already enjoyed too much give me something to desire.
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No man likes to live under the eye of perpetual disapprobation.
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The happiest part of a man's life is what he passes lying awake in bed in the morning.
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Those who attain any excellence, commonly spend life in one pursuit for excellence is not often gained upon easier terms.
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Small debts are like small shot they are rattling on every side, and can scarcely be escaped without a wound: great debts are like cannon of loud noise, but little danger.
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