Quote

There is ... scarcely any species of writing of which we can tell what is its essence, and what are its constituents every new genius produces some innovation, which, when invented and approved, subverts the rules which the practice of foregoing authors had established.

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
Every
Rules
Constituents
Species
Approved
Essence
Scarcely
Produce
Authors
Genius
Produces
Practice
Established
Tell
Invented
Foregoing
Writing
Innovation
Subverts

More quotes by Samuel Johnson

Image
It is not true that people are naturally equal for no two people can be together for even a half an hour without one acquiring an evident superiority over the other.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one step of success to another, forming new wishes and seeing them gratified.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Knock the 't' off the 'can't.'
Samuel Johnson
Image
The end of writing is to instruct the end of poetry is to instruct by pleasing.
Samuel Johnson
Image
The habit of looking on the bright side of every event is worth more than a thousand pounds a year.
Samuel Johnson
Image
If useless thoughts could be expelled from the mind, all the valuable parts of our knowledge would more frequently recur.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Confidence is a plant of slow growth especially in an aged bosom
Samuel Johnson
Image
Except during the nine months before he draws his first breath, no man manages his affairs as well as a tree. We are inclined to believe those whom we do not know because they have never deceived us.
Samuel Johnson
Image
When a man says he had pleasure with a woman he does not mean conversation.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Don't think of retiring from the world until the world will be sorry that you retire. I hate a fellow whom pride or cowardice or laziness drive into a corner, and who does nothing when he is there but sit and growl. Let him come out as I do, and bark.
Samuel Johnson
Image
No one will persist long in helping someone who will not help themselves.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Life protracted is protracted woe.
Samuel Johnson
Image
No government power can be abused long. Mankind will not bear it.
Samuel Johnson
Image
If he does really think that there is no distinction between virtue and vice, why, sir, when he leaves our houses let us count our spoons.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Few faults of style, whether real or imaginary, excite the malignity of a more numerous class of readers, than the use of hard words.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Books have always a secret influence on the understanding we cannot at pleasure obliterate ideas he that reads books of science, thogh without any fixed desire of improvement, will grow more knowing.
Samuel Johnson
Image
To build is to be robbed.
Samuel Johnson
Image
A successful author is equally in danger of the diminution of his fame, whether he continues or ceases to write.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Among the calamities of war may be numbered the diminution of the love of truth, by the falsehoods which interest dictates, and credulity encourages.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Your aspirations are your possibilities.
Samuel Johnson