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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
Narrative
Misery
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More quotes by Samuel Johnson

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Whoever wishes to attain an English style, familiar but not coarse, and elegant but not ostentatious, must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison.
Samuel Johnson
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The whole power of cunning is privative to say nothing, and to do nothing , is the utmost of its reach. Yet men, thus narrow by nature and mean by art, are sometimes able to rise by the miscarriages of bravery and the openness of integrity, and, watching failures and snatching opportunities, obtain advantages which belong to higher characters.
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.
Samuel Johnson
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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?
Samuel Johnson
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Those who have no power to judge of past times but by their own, should always doubt their conclusions
Samuel Johnson
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A few men are sufficient to broach falsehoods, which are afterwards innocently diffused by successive relaters.
Samuel Johnson
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An old friend never can be found, and nature has provided that he cannot easily be lost.
Samuel Johnson
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Words too familiar, or too remote, defeat the purpose of a poet.
Samuel Johnson
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The dependant who cultivates delicacy in himself very little consults his own tranquillity.
Samuel Johnson
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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.
Samuel Johnson
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It seems to be remarkable that death increases our veneration for the good, and extenuates our hatred for the bad.
Samuel Johnson
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Nothing is more common than to find men, whose works are now totally neglected, mentioned with praises by their contemporaries as the oracles of their age, and the legislators of science.
Samuel Johnson
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What is the reason that women servants ... have much lower wages than men servants ... when in fact our female house servants work much harder than the male?
Samuel Johnson
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Few things are impossible to diligence and skill.
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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A married man has many cares, but a bachelor no pleasures.
Samuel Johnson
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Bravery has no place where it can avail nothing.
Samuel Johnson
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It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives.
Samuel Johnson
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In order that all men might be taught to speak truth, it is necessary that all likewise should learn to hear it.
Samuel Johnson
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In a Man's Letters you know, Madam, his soul lies naked, his letters are only the mirrour of his breast.
Samuel Johnson