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If useless thoughts could be expelled from the mind, all the valuable parts of our knowledge would more frequently recur.

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
Mind
Recur
Would
Expelled
Frequently
Useless
Valuable
Parts
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Knowledge

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There is little peace or comfort in life if we are always anxious as to future events. He that worries himself with the dread of possible contingencies will never be at rest.
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An epithet or metaphor drawn from nature ennobles art an epithet or metaphor drawn from art degrades nature.
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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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Scarcely any degree of judgment is sufficient to restrain the imagination from magnifying that on which it is long detained
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The faults of a writer of acknowledged excellence are more dangerous, because the influence of his example is more extensive and the interest of learning requires that they should be discovered and stigmatized, before they have the sanction of antiquity conferred upon them, and become precedents of indisputable authority.
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A fallible being will fail somewhere.
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There should be a stated day for commemorating the birthday of our Savior, because there is danger that what may be done on any day, will be neglected.
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All unnecessary vows are folly, because they suppose a prescience of the future, which has not been given us.
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The poor and the busy have no leisure for sentimental sorrow.
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Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself, and don't think of retiring from the world, until the world will be sorry that you retire.
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Power is gradually stealing away from the many to the few, because the few are more vigilant and consistent.
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No government power can be abused long. Mankind will not bear it.
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Leisure and curiosity might soon make great advances in useful knowledge, were they not diverted by minute emulation and laborious trifles.
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Though it is evident, that not more than one age or people can deserve the censure of being more averse from learning than any other, yet at all times knowledge must have encountered impediments, and wit been mortified with contempt, or harassed with persecution.
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Riches, perhaps, do not so often produce crimes as incite accusers.
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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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Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one step of success to another, forming new wishes and seeing them gratified.
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It is better to live rich than to die rich.
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When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life for there is in London all that life can afford.
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In civilized society we all depend upon each other, and our happiness is very much owing to the good opinion of mankind.
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