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

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Too much nicety of detail disgusts the greatest part of readers, and to throw a multitude of particulars under general heads, and lay down rules of extensive comprehension, is to common understandings of little use.
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He that never labors may know the pains of idleness, but not the pleasures.
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Small debts are like small shot they are rattling on every side, and can scarcely be escaped without a wound: great debts are like cannon of loud noise, but little danger.
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The true genius is a mind of large general powers, accidentally determined to some particular direction.
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It is not often that any man can have so much knowledge of another, as is necessary to make instruction useful.
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The true art of memory is the art of attention.
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Leisure and curiosity might soon make great advances in useful knowledge, were they not diverted by minute emulation and laborious trifles.
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Don't tell me of deception a lie is a lie, whether it be a lie to the eye or a lie to the ear.
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It is in refinement and elegance that the civilized man differs from the savage.
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Words too familiar, or too remote, defeat the purpose of a poet.
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To purchase Heaven has gold the power? Can gold remove the mortal hour? In life can love be bought with gold? Are friendship's pleasures to be sold? No--all that's worth a wish--a thought, Fair virtue gives unbribed, unbought. Cease then on trash thy hopes to bind, Let nobler views engage thy mind.
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Confidence is a plant of slow growth especially in an aged bosom
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Even those to whom Providence has allotted greater strength of understanding can expect only to improve a single science.
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In all pleasures hope is a considerable part.
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The world is seldom what it seems to man, who dimly sees, realities appear as dreams, and dreams realities.
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When any anxiety or gloom of the mind takes hold of you, make it a rule not to publish it by complaining but exert yourselves to hide it, and by endeavoring to hide it you drive it away.
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Economy is the parent of integrity, of liberty, and of ease, and the beauteous sister of temperance, of cheerfulness and health.
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The pleasure of expecting enjoyment is often greater than that of obtaining it, and the completion of almost every wish is found a disappointment.
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To wipe all tears from off all faces is a task too hard for mortals but to alleviate misfortunes is often within the most limited power: yet the opportunities which every day affords of relieving the most wretched of human beings are overlooked and neglected with equal disregard of policy and goodness.
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