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To wipe all tears from off all faces is a task too hard for mortals but to alleviate misfortunes is often within the most limited power: yet the opportunities which every day affords of relieving the most wretched of human beings are overlooked and neglected with equal disregard of policy and goodness.

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
Human
Tears
Misfortunes
Relieving
Humans
Equal
Mortals
Affords
Hard
Policy
Limited
Alleviate
Every
Within
Task
Overlooked
Faces
Opportunities
Disregard
Opportunity
Tasks
Wipe
Often
Goodness
Neglected
Power
Beings
Wretched

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We have always pretensions to fame which, in our own hearts, we know to be disputable.
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No man will be a sailor who has contrivance enough to get himself into a jail for being in a ship is being in a jail, with the chance of being drowned... a man in a jail has more room, better food, and commonly better company.
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The drama's laws the drama's patrons give. For we that live to please must please to live.
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The civilities of the great are never thrown away.
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There is a certain race of men that either imagine it their duty, or make it their amusement, to hinder the reception of every work of learning or genius, who stand as sentinels in the avenues of fame, and value themselves upon giving Ignorance and Envy the first notice of a prey.
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Reproof should not exhaust its power upon petty failings.
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Assertion is not argument to contradict the statement of an opponent is not proof that you are correct.
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It is more from carelessness about truth than from intentionally lying that there is so much falsehood in the world.
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He that accepts protection, stipulates obedience. We have always protected the Americans we may therefore subject them to government.
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No man sympathizes with the sorrows of vanity.
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Merriment is always the effect of a sudden impression. The jest which is expected is already destroyed.
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I am always for getting a boy forward in his learning, for that is sure good. I would let him at first read any English book which happens to engage his attention because you have done a great deal when you have brought him to have entertainment from a book. He'll get better books afterwards.
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None but a fool worries about things he cannot influence.
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Sir, if a man has a mind to prance, he must study at Christ Church and All Souls.
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So many objections may be made to everything, that nothing can overcome them but the necessity of doing something.
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How small of all that human hearts endure, That part which laws or kings can cause or cure! Still to ourselves in every place consigned, Our own felicity we make or find. With secret course, which no loud storms annoy, Glides the smooth current of domestic joy.
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It is wonderful what a difference learning makes upon people even in the common intercourse of life, which does not appear to be much connected with it.
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Women have two weapons - cosmetics and tears
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To scatter praise or blame without regard to justice is to destroy the distinction of good and evil. Many have no other test of actions than general opinion and all are so far influenced by a sense of reputation that they are often restrained by fear of reproach, and excited by hope of honour, when other principles have lost their power.
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And panting Time toil'd after him in vain.
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