Quote

Books, says Lord Bacon, can never teach us the use of books the student must learn by commerce with mankind to reduce his speculations to practice. No man should think so highly of himself as to think he can receive but little light from books no one so meanly, as to believe he can discover nothing but what is to be learned from them.

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 Historian
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Lichfield
Staffordshire
Dr Johnson
Dr. Johnson
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Nothing
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Bacon
Never
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Littles
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Commerce
Thinking
Little
Teach
Highly

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Sir, he throws away his money without thought and without merit. I do not call a tree generous that sheds its fruit at every breeze.
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It is however, reasonable, to have perfection in our eye that we may always advance towards it, though we know it never can be reached.
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Poetry is the art of uniting pleasure with truth.
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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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It is indeed certain, that whoever attempts any common topick, will find unexpected coincidences of his thoughts with those of other writers nor can the nicest judgment always distinguish accidental similitude from artful imitation.
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Year chases year, decay pursues decay, Still drops some joy from with'ring life away New forms arise, and diff'rent views engage
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In the bottle discontent seeks for comfort, cowardice for courage, and bashfulness for confidence.
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In order that all men might be taught to speak truth, it is necessary that all likewise should learn to hear it.
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You teach your daughters the diameters of the planets and wonder when you are done that they do not delight in your company.
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Nature has given women so much power that the law has very wisely given them little.
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Words too familiar, or too remote, defeat the purpose of a poet.
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Shakespeare never had six lines together without a fault. Perhaps you may find seven, but this does not refute my general assertion.
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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.
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Luxury, so far as it reaches the people, will do good to the race of people it will strengthen and multiply them. Sir, no nation was ever hurt by luxury for, as I said before it can reach but a very few.
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Terrestrial happiness is of short duration. The brightness of the flame is wasting its fuel the fragrant flower is passing away in its own odors.
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He that would be superior to external influences must first become superior to his own passions.
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Hunger is never delicate they who are seldom gorged to the full with praise may be safely fed with gross compliments, for the appetite must be satisfied before it is disgusted.
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All the arguments which are brought to represent poverty as no evil show it evidently to be a great evil.
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Some people wave their dogmatic thinking until their own reason is entangled.
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Timidity is a disease of the mind, obstinate and fatal for a man once persuaded that any impediment is insuperable has given it, with respect to himself, that strength and weight which it had not before.
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