Quote

Tea's proper use is to amuse the idle, and relax the studious, and dilute the full meals of those who cannot use exercise, and will not use abstinence.

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
Cannot
Idle
Cake
Meals
Relax
Dilute
Proper
Studious
Exercise
Amuse
Full
Abstinence
Use
Tea

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Patience and submission are very carefully to be distinguished from cowardice and indolence. We are not to repine, but we may lawfully struggle for the calamities of life, like the necessities of Nature, are calls to labor and diligence.
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Modern writers are the moons of literature they shine with reflected light, with light borrowed from the ancients.
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If useless thoughts could be expelled from the mind, all the valuable parts of our knowledge would more frequently recur.
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Silence propagates itself, and the longer talk has been suspended, the more difficult it is to find anything to say.
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The liberty of using harmless pleasure will not be disputed but it is still to be examined what pleasures are harmless.
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The mind is never satisfied with the objects immediately before it, but is always breaking away from the present moment, and losing itself in schemes of future felicity... The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope.
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Self-love is a busy prompter.
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Wise married women don't trouble themselves about infidelity in their husbands.
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To scatter praise or blame without regard to justice is to destroy the distinction of good and evil. Many have no other test of actions than general opinion and all are so far influenced by a sense of reputation that they are often restrained by fear of reproach, and excited by hope of honour, when other principles have lost their power.
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Patron: One who countenances, supports or protects. Commonly a wretch who supports with insolence, and is repaid in flattery.
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People in general do not willingly read if they have anything else to amuse them.
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The mental disease of the present generation is impatience of study, contempt of the great masters of ancient wisdom, and a disposition to rely wholly upon unassisted genius and natural sagacity.
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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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What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence.
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The eye of the mind, like that of the body, can only extend its view to new objects, by losing sight of those which are now before it.
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He that pines with hunger, is in little care how others shall be fed. The poor man is seldom studious to make his grandson rich.
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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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Treating your adversary with respect is striking soft in battle.
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There is a certain degree of temptation which will overcome any virtue. Now, in so far as you approach temptation to a man, you do him an injury and, if he is overcome, you share his guilt.
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When desperate ills demand a speedy cure, Distrust is cowardice, and prudence folly.
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