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The mischief of flattery is, not that it persuades any man that he is what he is not, but that it suppresses the influence of honest ambition, by raising an opinion that honour may be gained without the toil of merit.

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
Ambition
Persuades
Influence
Mischief
Honest
Flattery
Opinion
Gained
May
Toil
Without
Raising
Men
Honour
Merit
Suppresses

More quotes by Samuel Johnson

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It is, indeed, at home that every man must be known by those who would make a just estimate either of his virtue or felicity for smiles and embroidery are alike occasional, and the mind is often dressed for show in painted honor, and fictitious benevolence.
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Nothing is more common than for men to make partial and absurd distinctions between vices of equal enormity, and to observe some of the divine commands with great scrupulousness, while they violate others, equally important, without any concern, or the least apparent conciousness of guilt. Alas, it is only wisdom which perceives this tragedy.
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Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one step of success to another, forming new wishes and seeing them gratified.
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None are happy but by anticipation of change.
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There are few ways in which a man can be more innocently employed than in getting money.
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Security will produce danger.
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It is commonly observed, that when two Englishmen meet, their first talk is of the weather they are in haste to tell each other, what each must already know, that it is hot or cold, bright or cloudy, windy or calm.
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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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I remember a passage in Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield, which he was afterwards fool enough to expunge: I do not love a man who is zealous for nothing.
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The perfect day for quitting is not real. It will never come, so might as well start today
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It seems to be remarkable that death increases our veneration for the good, and extenuates our hatred for the bad.
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A man of genius has been seldom ruined but by himself.
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Want of tenderness is want of parts, and is no less a proof of stupidity than depravity.
Samuel Johnson
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Being in a ship is being in a jail, with the chance of being drowned.
Samuel Johnson
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Claret is the liquor for boys port for men but he who aspires to be a hero must drink brandy.
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When we see our enemies and friends gliding away before us, let us not forget that we are subject to the general law of mortality, and shall soon be where our doom will be fixed forever.
Samuel Johnson
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If the abuse be enormous, nature will rise up, and claiming her original rights, overturn a corrupt political system.
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The feeling of friendship is like that of being comfortably filled with roast beef love, like being enlivened with champagne.
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To do nothing is in everyone's power.
Samuel Johnson
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Who left nothing of authorship untouched, and touched nothing which he did not adorn. [Lat., Qui nullum fere scribendi genus non tetigit nullum quod tetigit non ornavit.]
Samuel Johnson