Samuel Johnson

Where secrecy or mystery begins, vice or roguery is not far off.

A short letter to a distant friend is, in my opinion, an insult like that of a slight bow or cursory salutation — a proof of unwillingness to do much, even where there is a necessity of doing something.

Count on it, if a person talks of their misfortune, there is something in it that is not disagreeable to them.

No two men can be half an hour together but one shall acquire an evident superiority over the other.

While grief is fresh, every attempt to divert only irritates. You must wait till grief be digested, and then amusement will dissipate the remains of it.

The applause of a single human being is of great consequence.

I will be conquered; I will not capitulate.

Nothing can bring you peace but yourself; nothing, but the triumph of principles.

Language is a city to the building of which every human being brought a stone.

He who has provoked the shaft of wit, cannot complain that he smarts from it.

Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does the work.

A wise neuter joins with neither, but uses both as his honest interest leads him.

First love is only a little foolishness and a lot of curiosity: no really self-respecting woman would take advantage of it.

Stupidity is something you can only partly save people from.

He has the deed half done who has made a beginning.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

The perception of beauty is a moral test.

Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.

I hate mankind, for I think of myself as one of the best of them, and I know how bad I am.

We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.

Difficult do you call it, Sir? I wish it were impossible.