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Samuel Johnson

83 quotes

Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) was an English writer and literary critic who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, playwright, essayist, and the creator of *A Dictionary of the English Language*. Known as "Dr. Johnson," his wit, wisdom, and larger-than-life personality made him one of the most quoted Englishmen of all time.

“Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.”

— Samuel Johnson

Knowledge

All Quotes by Samuel Johnson

“The return of my birthday, if I remember it, fills me with thoughts which it seems to be the general care of humanity to escape.”

— Samuel Johnson

Birthday

“Small debts are like small shot they are rattling on every side, and can scarcely be escaped without a wound: great debts are like cannon of loud noise, but little danger.”

— Samuel Johnson

Great

“There is no private house in which people can enjoy themselves so well as at a capital tavern... No, Sir there is nothing which has yet been contrived by man by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn.”

— Samuel Johnson

Happiness

“The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope.”

— Samuel Johnson

Hope

“I have always considered it as treason against the great republic of human nature, to make any man's virtues the means of deceiving him.”

— Samuel Johnson

Great

“Poetry is the art of uniting pleasure with truth.”

— Samuel Johnson

Art

“If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.”

— Samuel Johnson

Great

“You can't be in politics unless you can walk in a room and know in a minute who's for you and who's against you.”

— Samuel Johnson

Politics

“The future is purchased by the present.”

— Samuel Johnson

Future

“It is more from carelessness about truth than from intentionally lying that there is so much falsehood in the world.”

— Samuel Johnson

Truth

“There are few ways in which a man can be more innocently employed than in getting money.”

— Samuel Johnson

Money

“I would not give half a guinea to live under one form of government other than another. It is of no moment to the happiness of an individual.”

— Samuel Johnson

Government

“Bachelors have consciences, married men have wives.”

— Samuel Johnson

Marriage

“Friendship, like love, is destroyed by long absence, though it may be increased by short intermissions.”

— Samuel Johnson

Friendship

“All theory is against freedom of the will all experience for it.”

— Samuel Johnson

Experience

“Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.”

— Samuel Johnson

Knowledge

“Let me smile with the wise, and feed with the rich.”

— Samuel Johnson

Smile

“Nature has given women so much power that the law has very wisely given them little.”

— Samuel Johnson

Nature

“If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man, sir, should keep his friendship in a constant repair.”

— Samuel Johnson

Alone

“He who waits to do a great deal of good at once will never do anything.”

— Samuel Johnson

Great