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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.

“Subordination tends greatly to human happiness. Were we all upon an equality, we should have no other enjoyment than mere animal pleasure.”

— Samuel Johnson

Equality

All Quotes by Samuel Johnson

“Disease generally begins that equality which death completes.”

— Samuel Johnson

Death

“What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence.”

— Samuel Johnson

Hope

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

— Samuel Johnson

Music

“All the arguments which are brought to represent poverty as no evil show it evidently to be a great evil.”

— Samuel Johnson

Great

“The mind is never satisfied with the objects immediately before it, but is always breaking away from the present moment, and losing itself in schemes of future felicity... The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope.”

— Samuel Johnson

Future

“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

“The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.”

— Samuel Johnson

Good

“Courage is the greatest of all virtues, because if you haven't courage, you may not have an opportunity to use any of the others.”

— Samuel Johnson

Courage

“Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.”

— Samuel Johnson

Great

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

— Samuel Johnson

Art

“You cannot spend money in luxury without doing good to the poor. Nay, you do more good to them by spending it in luxury, than by giving it for by spending it in luxury, you make them exert industry, whereas by giving it, you keep them idle.”

— Samuel Johnson

Money

“Power is not sufficient evidence of truth.”

— Samuel Johnson

Power

“Such is the state of life, that none are happy but by the anticipation of change: the change itself is nothing when we have made it, the next wish is to change again.”

— Samuel Johnson

Change

“To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition, the end to which every enterprise and labor tends, and of which every desire prompts the prosecution.”

— Samuel Johnson

Home

“It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust.”

— Samuel Johnson

Trust

“Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness it certainly destroys liberty, and it makes some virtues impracticable, and others extremely difficult.”

— 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

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

— Samuel Johnson

Experience

“Life cannot subsist in society but by reciprocal concessions.”

— Samuel Johnson

Society

“There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern.”

— Samuel Johnson

Happiness