Samuel Johnson

The vanity of being known to be trusted with a secret is generally one of the chief motives to disclose it.

One of the disadvantages of wine is that it makes a man mistake words for thoughts.

Pain is less subject than pleasure to careless expression.

The desire of advising has a very extensive prevalence; and, since advice cannot be given but to those that will hear it, a patient listener is necessary to the accommodation of all those who desire to be confirmed in the opinion of their own wisdom: a patient listener, however, is not always to be had; the present age, whatever age is present, is so vitiated and disordered, that young people are readier to talk than to attend, and good counsel is only thrown away upon those who are full of their own perfections.

No one ever became great by imitation.

Sir, a man who cannot get to heaven in a green coat, will not find his way thither the sooner in a gray one.

Above all, we must avoid the pitfalls of tribalism. If we are divided among ourselves on tribal lines, we open our doors to foreign intervention and its potentially harmful consequences.

Men who for truth and honor’s sake stand fast and suffer long. Brave men who work while others sleep. Who dare while others fly.They build a nation’s pillars deep. And lift them to the sky.

A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep.

The cat, having sat upon a hot stove lid, will not sit upon a hot stove lid again. But he won’t sit upon a cold stove lid, either.

A good memory and a tongue tied in the middle is a combination which gives immortality to conversation.

The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.

He walked out into the cold morning asking himself this heretical question: Can you start measuring a minute at any instant you wish?

I have received no more than one or two letters in my life that were worth the postage.

They that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils.

Go anywhere in England where there are natural, wholesome, contented, and really nice English people; and what do you always find? That the stables are the real center of the household.

We need much less than we think we need.

From now on, ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put.

Life began with waking up and loving my mother’s face.

A broken heart is a very pleasant complaint for a man in London if he has a comfortable income.

Courage is exhilarating.