Quote

Life is but short no time can be afforded but for the indulgence of real sorry, or contests upon questions seriously momentous. Let us not throw away any of our days upon useless resentment, or contend who shall hold out longest in stubborn malignity. It is best not to be angry and best, in the next place, to be quickly reconciled.

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
Life
Days
Throw
Longest
Upon
Anger
Contests
Away
Sorry
Indulgence
Next
Questions
Stubborn
Malignity
Place
Angry
Resentment
Momentous
Best
Short
Useless
Afforded
Real
Hold
Seriously
Reconciled
Time
Shall
Quickly
Contend

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Few things are impossible to diligence and skill.
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Shame arises from the fear of men, conscience from the fear of God.
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You cannot give me an instance of any man who is permitted to lay out his own time contriving not to have tedious hours.
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At seventy-seven it is time to be in earnest.
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He who sees different ways to the same end, will, unless he watches carefully over his own conduct, lay out too much of his attention upon the comparison of probabilities and the adjustment of expedients, and pause in the choice of his road, till some accident intercepts his journey.
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In life's last scene what prodigies surprise, Fears of the brave, and follies of the wise! From Marlborough's eyes the streams of dotage flow, And Swift expires a driveller and a show.
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Turn on the prudent Ant, thy heedful eyes, Observe her labours, Sluggard, and be wise.
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There is nothing against which an old man should be so much upon his guard as putting himself to nurse.
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It is so far from being natural for a man and woman to live in a state of marriage, that we find all the motives which they have for remaining in that connection, and the restraints which civilised society imposes to prevent separation, are hardly sufficient to keep them together.
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We are all prompted by the same motives, all deceived by the same fallacies, all animated by hope, obstructed by danger, entangled by desire, and seduced by pleasure.
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Since every man is obliged to promote happiness and virtue, he should be careful not to mislead unwary minds, by appearing to set too high a value upon things by which no real excellence is conferred.
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The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope.
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Advice is seldom welcome. Those who need it most, like it least.
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This mournful truth is everywhere confessed, slow rises worth by poverty depressed.
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The peculiar doctrine of Christianity is that of a universal sacrifice and perpetual propitiation.
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Such are the vicissitudes of the world, through all its parts, that day and night, labor and rest, hurry and retirement, endear each other such are the changes that keep the mind in action: we desire, we pursue, we obtain, we are satiated we desire something else and begin a new pursuit.
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I live in the crowd of jollity, not so much to enjoy company as to shun myself.
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The feeling of friendship is like that of being comfortably filled with roast beef love, like being enlivened with champagne.
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Of the blessings set before you make your choice, and be content. No man can taste the fruits of autumn while he is delighting his scent with the flowers of the spring: no man can, at the same time, fill his cup from the source and from the mouth of the Nile.
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Do not ... hope wholly to reason away your troubles do not feed them with attention, and they will die imperceptibly away. Fix your thoughts upon your business, fill your intervals with company, and sunshine will again break in upon your mind.
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