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We ought not to raise expectations which it is not in our power to satisfy.-It is more pleasing to see smoke brightening into flame, than flame sinking into smoke.

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
Flame
Flames
Raise
Smoke
Raises
Brightening
Expectations
Sinking
Ought
Pleasing
Power
Satisfy

More quotes by Samuel Johnson

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Cruel with guilt, and daring with despair, the midnight murderer bursts the faithless bar invades the sacred hour of silent rest and leaves, unseen, a dagger in your breast.
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It is our first duty to serve society.
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A student may easily exhaust his life in comparing divines and moralists without any practical regard to morals and religion he may be learning not to live but to reason... while the chief use of his volumes is unthought of, his mind is unaffected, and his life is unreformed.
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The equity of Providence has balanced peculiar sufferings with peculiar enjoyments.
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To read, write, and converse in due proportions, is, therefore, the business of a man of letters.
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We have now learned that rashness and imprudence will not be deterred from taking credit let us try whether fraud and avarice may be more easily restrained from giving it.
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Slavery is now nowhere more patiently endured, than in countries once inhabited by the zealots of liberty.
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He who praises everybody, praises nobody.
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Here lies our good Edmund, whose genius was such, We scarcely can praise it or blame it too much Who, born for the Universe, narrowed his mind, And to party gave up what was meant for mankind.
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He was dull in a new way, and that made many think him great.
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We are more pained by ignorance than delighted by instruction.
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Bravery has no place where it can avail nothing.
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No government power can be abused long. Mankind will not bear it.... There is a remedy in human nature against tyranny, that will keep us safe under every form of government.
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Since life itself is uncertain, nothing which has life for its basis can boast much stability.
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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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The highest panegyric, therefore, that private virtue can receive, is the praise of servants.
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I remember very well, when I was at Oxford, an old gentleman said to me, Young man, ply your book diligently now, and acquire a stock of knowledge for when years come upon you, you will find that poring upon books will be but an irksome task.
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If I have said something to hurt a man once, I shall not get the better of this by saying many things to please him.
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He left the name at which the world grew pale, To point a moral, or adorn a tale.
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I have always said the first Whig was the Devil.
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