Quote

To be flattered is grateful, even when we know that our praises are not believed by those who pronounce them for they prove, at least, our power, and show that our favour is valued, since it is purchased by the meanness of falsehood.

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
Show
Flattery
Shows
Falsehood
Purchased
Power
Believed
Pronounce
Even
Praise
Praises
Grateful
Flattered
Prove
Meanness
Least
Valued
Since
Favour

More quotes by Samuel Johnson

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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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Every quotation contributes something to the stability or enlargement of language.
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In all pleasures hope is a considerable part.
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A country is in a bad state, which is governed only by laws because a thousand things occur for which laws cannot provide, and where authority ought to interpose.
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Some claim a place in the list of patriots, by an acrimonious and unremitting opposition to the court. This mark is by no means infallible. Patriotism is not necessarily included in rebellion. A man may hate his king, yet not love his country.
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Hoc age ['do this'] is the great rule, whether you are serious or merry whether ... learning science or duty from a folio, or floating on the Thames. Intentions must be gathered from acts.
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Pride is a vice, which pride itself inclines every man to find in others, and to overlook in himself
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What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence.
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What is twice read is commonly better remembered that what is transcribed.
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What is good only because it pleases cannot be pronounced good till it has been found to please.
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The authors that in any nation last from age to age are very few, because there are very few that have any other claim to notice than that they catch hold on present curiosity, and gratify some accidental desire, or produce some temporary conveniency.
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We are easily shocked by crimes which appear at once in their full magnitude, but the gradual growth of our own wickedness, endeared by interest, and palliated by all the artifices of self-deceit, gives us time to form distinctions in our own favor
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New things are made familiar, and familiar things are made new.
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Round numbers are always false.
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I am very fond of the company of ladies. I like their beauty, I like their delicacy, I like their vivacity, and I like their silence.
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The desires of man increase with his acquisitions.
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If he does really think that there is no distinction between virtue and vice, why, sir, when he leaves our houses let us count our spoons.
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In questions of law or of fact conscience is very often confounded with opinion. No man's conscience can tell him the rights of another man they must be known by rational investigation or historical inquiry.
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They who most loudly clamour for liberty do not most liberally grant it.
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Agriculture not only gives riches to a nation, but the only riches she can call her own.
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