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But the distant hope of being one day useful or eminent ought not to mislead us too far from that study which is equally requisite to the great and mean, to the celebrated and obscure the art of moderating the desires, of repressing the appetites and of conciliating or retaining the favour of mankind.

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
Mankind
Favour
Moderating
Ought
Distant
Repressing
Study
Obscure
Retaining
Hope
Appetite
Eminent
Desire
Equally
Requisite
Art
Desires
Appetites
Mean
Useful
Mislead
Great
Curiosity
Celebrated

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Every man that has felt pain knows how little all other comforts can gladden him to whom health is denied. Yet who is there does not sometimes hazard it for the enjoyment of an hour?
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The seeds of knowledge may be planted in solitude, but must be cultivated in public.
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It is man's own fault, it is from want of use, if his mind grows torpid in old age.
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It is as bad as bad can be: it is ill-fed, ill-killed, ill-kept, and ill-drest.
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Assertion is not argument to contradict the statement of an opponent is not proof that you are correct.
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There are innumerable questions to which the inquisitive mind can in this state receive no answer: Why do you and I exist? Why was this world created? Since it was to be created, why was it not created sooner?
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When the eye or the imagination is struck with an uncommon work, the next transition of an active mind is to the means by which it was performed
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A mere literary man is a dull man a man who is solely a man of business is a selfish man but when literature and commerce are united, they make a respectable man.
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Spite and ill-nature are among the most expensive luxuries in life.
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No man can perform so little as not to have reason to congratulate himself on his merits, when he beholds the multitude that live in total idleness, and have never yet endeavoured to be useful.
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Whisky making is the art of making poison pleasant
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No man can enjoy happiness without thinking that he enjoys it.
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We must consider how very little history there is--I mean real, authentic history. That certain kings reigned and certain battles were fought, we can depend upon as true but all the coloring, all the philosophy, of history is conjecture.
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Levellers wish to level down as far as themselves but they cannot bear levelling up to themselves.
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Shakespeare never had six lines together without a fault. Perhaps you may find seven, but this does not refute my general assertion.
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Cunning has effect from the credulity of others, rather than from the abilities of those who are cunning. It requires no extraordinary talents to lie and deceive.
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An author places himself uncalled before the tribunal of criticism and solicits fame at the hazard of disgrace.
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We are long before we are convinced that happiness is never to be found, and each believes it possessed by others, to keep alive the hope of obtaining it for himself.
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Vulgar and inactive minds confound familiarity with knowledge, and conceive themselves informed of the whole nature of things, when they are shown their form or told their use.
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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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