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Those whose abilities or knowledge incline them most to deviate from the general round of life are recalled from eccentricity by the laws of their existence.

Samuel Johnson

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Samuel Johnson
Age: 75 †
Born: 1709
Born: September 18
Died: 1784
Died: December 13
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All unnecessary vows are folly, because they suppose a prescience of the future, which has not been given us.
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It is indeed certain, that whoever attempts any common topick, will find unexpected coincidences of his thoughts with those of other writers nor can the nicest judgment always distinguish accidental similitude from artful imitation.
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I will venture to say there is more learning and science within the circumference of ten miles from where we now sit [in London], than in all the rest of the kingdom.
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Irresolution and mutability are often the faults of men whose views are wide, and whose imagination is vigorous and excursive.
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Happiness is enjoyed only in proportion as it is known and such is the state or folly of man, that it is known only by experience of its contrary.
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Of the blessings set before you make your choice, and be content. No man can taste the fruits of autumn while he is delighting his scent with the flowers of the spring: no man can, at the same time, fill his cup from the source and from the mouth of the Nile.
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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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Before dinner men meet with great inequality of understanding.
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The misery of man proceeds not from any single crush of overwhelming evil, but from small vexations continually repeated.
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There are certain topicks which are never exhausted. Of some images and sentiments the mind of man may be said to be enamoured it meets them, however often they occur, with the same ardour which a lover feels at the sight of his mistress, and parts from them with the same regret when they can no longer be enjoyed.
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How can children credit the assertions of parents, which their own eyes show them to be false? Few parents act in such a manner as much to enforce their maxims by the credit of their lives
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Never speak of a man in his own presence. It is always indelicate, and may be offensive .
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Labor's face is wrinkled with the wind, and swarthy with the sun.
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Everybody loves to have things which please the palate put in their way, without trouble or preparation.
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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.
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A man is very apt to complain of the ingratitude of those who have risen far above him.
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The care of the critic should be to distinguish error from inability, faults of inexperience from defects of nature.
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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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The hapless wit has his labors always to begin, the call for novelty is never satisfied, and one jest only raises expectation of another.
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He that never thinks can never be wise.
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