Quote

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

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

More quotes by Samuel Johnson

Image
That observation which is called knowledge of the world will be found much more frequently to make men cunning than good.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Social sorrow loses half its pain.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those who we cannot resemble.
Samuel Johnson
Image
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.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Politeness is one of those advantages which we never estimate rightly but by the inconvenience of its loss.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Riches, perhaps, do not so often produce crimes as incite accusers.
Samuel Johnson
Image
As a madman is apt to think himself grown suddenly great, so he that grows suddenly great is apt to borrow a little from the madman.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Never trust your tongue when your heart is bitter.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Who left nothing of authorship untouched, and touched nothing which he did not adorn. [Lat., Qui nullum fere scribendi genus non tetigit nullum quod tetigit non ornavit.]
Samuel Johnson
Image
A lawyer has no business with the justice or injustice of the cause which he undertakes, unless his client asks his opinion, and then he is bound to give it honestly. The justice or injustice of the cause is to be decided by the judge.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Where there is no difficulty there is no praise.
Samuel Johnson
Image
No man tells his opinion so freely as when he imagines it received with implicit veneration.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Virtue is too often merely local.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Poverty has, in large cities, very different appearances it is often concealed in splendour, and often in extravagance.
Samuel Johnson
Image
A man, sir, should keep his friendship in a constant repair.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Treating your adversary with respect is giving him an advantage to which he is not entitled.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Each person's work is always a portrait of himself.
Samuel Johnson
Image
A decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization.
Samuel Johnson
Image
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.
Samuel Johnson