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A writer who obtains his full purpose loses himself in his own lustre.

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
Loses
Full
Purpose
Writing
Obtains
Lustre
Writer

More quotes by Samuel Johnson

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I am not yet so lost in lexicography, as to forget that words are the daughters of the earth, and that things are the sons of heaven. Language is only the instrument of science, and words are but the signs of ideas: I wish, however, that the instrument might be less apt to decay, and that signs might be permanent, like the things which they denote.
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There are few ways in which a man can be more innocently employed than in getting money.
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Cunning has effect from the credulity of others, rather than from the abilities of those who are cunning. It requires no extraordinary talents to lie and deceive.
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Example is always more efficacious than precept.
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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.
Samuel Johnson
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You may translate books of science exactly. ... The beauties of poetry cannot be preserved in any language except that in which it was originally written.
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And panting Time toil'd after him in vain.
Samuel Johnson
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What is twice read is commonly better remembered that what is transcribed.
Samuel Johnson
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What ever the motive for the insult, it is always best to overlook it for folly doesn't deserve resentment, and malice is punished by neglect.
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The truly strong and sound mind is the mind that can embrace equally great things and small.
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If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.
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That is the happiest conversation where there is no competition, no vanity, but a calm, quiet interchange of sentiments...
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When there is no hope, there can be no endeavor.
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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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Allow children to be happy in their own way, for what better way will they find?
Samuel Johnson
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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
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Mankind have a great aversion to intellectual labor but even supposing knowledge to be easily attainable, more people would be content to be ignorant than would take even a little trouble to acquire it.
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This mournful truth is everywhere confessed, slow rises worth by poverty depressed.
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I would rather be attacked than unnoticed. For the worst thing you can do to an author is to be silent as to his works.
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Authors and lovers always suffer some infatuation, from which only absence can set them free.
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