S

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.

“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

All Quotes by Samuel Johnson

“Prepare for death, if here at night you roam, and sign your will before you sup from home.”

— Samuel Johnson

Death

“In order that all men may be taught to speak the truth, it is necessary that all likewise should learn to hear it.”

— Samuel Johnson

Truth

“Many things difficult to design prove easy to performance.”

— Samuel Johnson

Design

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

— Samuel Johnson

Art

“The happiest part of a man's life is what he passes lying awake in bed in the morning.”

— Samuel Johnson

Morning

“The future is purchased by the present.”

— Samuel Johnson

Future

“Your manuscript is both good and original but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good.”

— Samuel Johnson

Good

“There is nothing, Sir, too little for so little a creature as man. It is by studying little things that we attain the great art of having as little misery and as much happiness as possible.”

— Samuel Johnson

Art

“Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.”

— Samuel Johnson

Patriotism

“Getting money is not all a man's business: to cultivate kindness is a valuable part of the business of life.”

— Samuel Johnson

Business

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

— Samuel Johnson

Great

“Of all noises, I think music is the least disagreeable.”

— Samuel Johnson

Music

“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

“No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money.”

— Samuel Johnson

Money

“It is better that some should be unhappy rather than that none should be happy, which would be the case in a general state of equality.”

— Samuel Johnson

Equality

“Power is not sufficient evidence of truth.”

— Samuel Johnson

Power

“Dictionaries are like watches, the worst is better than none and the best cannot be expected to go quite true.”

— Samuel Johnson

Best

“The true art of memory is the art of attention.”

— Samuel Johnson

Art

“Bachelors have consciences, married men have wives.”

— Samuel Johnson

Marriage

“No man was ever great by imitation.”

— Samuel Johnson

Great