Samuel Johnson

He that outlives a wife whom he has long loved, sees himself disjoined from the only mind that has the same hopes, and fears, and interest; from the only companion with whom he has shared much good and evil; and with whom he could set his mind at liberty, to retrace the past or anticipate the future. The continuity of being is lacerated; the settled course of sentiment and action is stopped; and life stands suspended and motionless.

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.

Language is only the instrument of science, and words are but the signs of ideas: I wish, however, that the instrument might be less apt to decay, and that signs might be permanent, like the things they denote.

Adversity is the state in which man mostly easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.

Those who attain to any excellence commonly spend life in some single pursuit, for excellence is not often gained upon easier terms.

Fly fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.

But lo! men have become the tools of their tools.

Be an opener of doors.

Train hard, turn up, run your best and the rest will take care of itself.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends… Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts.

I have had to learn that my voice has value. And if I don’t use it, what’s the point of being in the room?

I encourage you to live with life. Be courageous, adventurous. Give us a tomorrow, more than we deserve.

Most people want to avoid pain, and discipline is usually painful.

Do that which is assigned to you and you cannot hope too much or dare too much.

When you do something, you should burn yourself up completely, like a good bonfire, leaving no trace of yourself.

All great masters are chiefly distinguished by the power of adding a second, a third, and perhaps a fourth step in a continuous line. Many a man had taken the first step. With every additional step you enhance immensely the value of your first.

He hates chess. He says it is a foolish expedient for making idle people believe they are doing something clever when they are only wasting their time.

Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop.

We are taught by great actions that the universe is the property of every individual in it.

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.