Quote

Politeness is fictitious benevolence.

Samuel Johnson

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

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
Politeness
Benevolence
Manners
Fictitious

More quotes by Samuel Johnson

Image
Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Pleasure itself is not a vice
Samuel Johnson
Image
There is no wisdom in useless and hopeless sorrow.
Samuel Johnson
Image
It is as bad as bad can be: it is ill-fed, ill-killed, ill-kept, and ill-drest.
Samuel Johnson
Image
We may take Fancy for a companion, but must follow Reason as our guide.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Wickedness is always easier than virtue for it takes the short cut to everything.
Samuel Johnson
Image
The fortitude which has encountered no dangers, that prudence which has surmounted no difficulties, that integrity which has been attacked by no temptation, can at best be considered but as gold not yet brought to the test, of which therefore the true value cannot be assigned.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Sir, I think all Christians, whether Papists or Protestants, agree in the essential articles, and that their differences are trivial, and rather political than religious.
Samuel Johnson
Image
When two Eglishmen meet, their first talk is of the weather.
Samuel Johnson
Image
There is little peace or comfort in life if we are always anxious as to future events. He that worries himself with the dread of possible contingencies will never be at rest.
Samuel Johnson
Image
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
Image
Every man naturally persuades himself that he can keep his resolutions, nor is he convinced of his imbecility but by length of time and frequency of experiment.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Never believe extraordinary characters which you hear of people. Depend upon it, they are exaggerated. You do not see one man shoot a great deal higher than another.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Bachelors have consciences, married men have wives.
Samuel Johnson
Image
There must always be some advantage on one side or the other, and it is better that advantage should be had by talents than by chance.
Samuel Johnson
Image
They who most loudly clamour for liberty do not most liberally grant it.
Samuel Johnson
Image
No evil is insupportable but that which is accompanied with consciousness of wrong.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Babies do not want to hear about babies they like to be told of giants and castles.
Samuel Johnson
Image
An epithet or metaphor drawn from nature ennobles art an epithet or metaphor drawn from art degrades nature.
Samuel Johnson
Image
A man is not obliged honestly to answer a question which should not properly be put.
Samuel Johnson