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This is my history like all other histories, a narrative of misery.

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
Misery
History
Like
Histories
Narrative

More quotes by Samuel Johnson

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If we will have the kindness of others, we must endure their follies.
Samuel Johnson
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Men are generally idle, and ready to satisfy themselves, and intimidate the industry of others, by calling that impossible which is only difficult.
Samuel Johnson
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There are few minds to which tyranny is not delightful.
Samuel Johnson
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I am always sorry when any language is lost, because languages are the pedigrees of nations.
Samuel Johnson
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...it will not always happen that the success of a poet is proportionate to his labor.
Samuel Johnson
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In life's last scene what prodigies surprise, Fears of the brave, and follies of the wise! From Marlborough's eyes the streams of dotage flow, And Swift expires a driveller and a show.
Samuel Johnson
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The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Samuel Johnson
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There seems to be a strange affectation in authors of appearing to have done everything by chance.
Samuel Johnson
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One of the aged greatest miseries is that they cannot easily find a companion able to share the memories of the past.
Samuel Johnson
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Advertisements are now so numerous that they are very negligently perused
Samuel Johnson
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Words too familiar, or too remote, defeat the purpose of a poet.
Samuel Johnson
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Mutual cowardice keeps us in peace.
Samuel Johnson
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Those who do not feel pain seldom think that it is felt.
Samuel Johnson
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This mournful truth is everywhere confessed, slow rises worth by poverty depressed.
Samuel Johnson
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The violence of war admits no distinction the lance, that is lifted at guilt and power, will sometimes fall on innocence and gentleness.
Samuel Johnson
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Combinations of wickedness would overwhelm the world, by the advantage which licentious principles afford, did not those who have long practised perfidy grow faithless to each other.
Samuel Johnson
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The Irish are a fair people: They never speak well of one another.
Samuel Johnson
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The complaint, therefore, that all topicks are preoccupied, is nothing more than the murmur of ignorance or idleness, by which some discourage others, and some themselves the mutability of mankind will always furnish writers with new images, and the luxuriance of fancy may always embellish them with new decorations.
Samuel Johnson
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Few things are so liberally bestowed, or squandered with so little effect, as good advice.
Samuel Johnson
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No one is much pleased with a companion who does not increase, in some respect, their fondness for themselves.
Samuel Johnson