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We must consider how very little history there is--I mean real, authentic history. That certain kings reigned and certain battles were fought, we can depend upon as true but all the coloring, all the philosophy, of history is conjecture.

Samuel Johnson

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Samuel Johnson
Age: 75 †
Born: 1709
Born: September 18
Died: 1784
Died: December 13
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Literary Critic
Literary Historian
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Lichfield
Staffordshire
Dr Johnson
Dr. Johnson
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There seems to be a strange affectation in authors of appearing to have done everything by chance.
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To be of no Church is dangerous.
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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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An Englishman is content to say nothing when he has nothing to say.
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Misery is caused for the most part, not by a heavy crush of disaster, but by the corrosion of less visible evils, which canker enjoyment, and undermine security. The visit of an invader is necessarily rare, but domestic animosities allow no cessation.
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Apologies are seldom of any use.
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He that has too much to do will do something wrong.
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Truth, Sir, is a cow which will yield such people no more milk, and so they are gone to milk the bull.
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What I gained by being in France was learning to be better satisfied with my own country.
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Yet it is necessary to hope, though hope should always be deluded, for hope itself is happiness, and its frustrations, however frequent, are yet less dreadful than its extinction.
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In misery's darkest cavern known, His useful care was ever nigh Where hopeless anguish pour'd his groan, And lonely want retir'd to die.
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Idleness and timidity often despair without being overcome, and forbear attempts for fear of being defeated and we may promote the invigoration of faint endeavors, by showing what has already been performed.
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Every man has something to do which he neglects, every man has faults to conquer which he delays to combat.
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But to the particular species of excellence men are directed, not by an ascendant planet or predominating humour, but by the first book which they read, some early conversation which they heard, or some accident which excited ardour and emulation.
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By those who look close to the ground dirt will be seen. I hope I see things from a greater distance.
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It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives.
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The maxim of Cleobulus, Mediocrity is best, has been long considered a universal principle, extending through the whole compass of life and nature. The experience of every age seems to have given it new confirmation, and to show that nothing, however specious or alluring, is pursued with propriety or enjoyed with safety beyond certain limits.
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He that is already corrupt is naturally suspicious, and he that becomes suspicious will quickly become corrupt.
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Age is rarely despised but when it is, contemptible.
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The mental disease of the present generation is impatience of study, contempt of the great masters of ancient wisdom, and a disposition to rely wholly upon unassisted genius and natural sagacity.
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