Samuel Johnson

Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.

Cruel with guilt, and daring with despair, the midnight murderer bursts the faithless bar; invades the sacred hour of silent rest and leaves, unseen, a dagger in your breast.

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.

Sir, I have no objection to a man’s drinking wine, if he can do it in moderation. I found myself apt to go to excess in it, and therefore, after having been for some time without it, on account of illness, I thought it better not to return to it. Every man is to judge for himself, according to the effects which he experiences.

Some people have a foolish way of not minding, or pretending not to mind, what they eat. For my part, I mind my belly very studiously, and very carefully; for I look upon it, that he who does not mind his belly, will hardly mind anything else.

The wretched have no compassion, they can do good only from strong principles of duty.

The only failure one should fear, is not hugging to the purpose they see as best.

No question is so difficult to answer as that which the answer is obvious.

There are charms made only for distance admiration.

For it is not possible to join serpentine wisdom with columbine innocency, except men know exactly all the conditions of the serpent: his baseness and going upon his belly, his volubility and lubricity, his envy and sting, and the rest; that is, all forms and natures of evil: for without this, virtue lieth open and unfenced.

The truths of religion are never so well understood as by those who have lost the power of reason.

Let us not be too particular; it is better to have old secondhand diamonds than none at all.

The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice.

To every disadvantage there is a corresponding advantage.

Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot.

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

The blunting effects of slavery upon the slaveholder’s moral perceptions are known and conceded the world over; and a priveleged class, an aristocracy, is but a band of slaveholders under another name.

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

The mind can go in a thousand directions, but on this beautiful path, I walk in peace.

Many of the phenomena of Winter are suggestive of an inexpressible tenderness and fragile delicacy. We are accustomed to hear this king described as a rude and boisterous tyrant; but with the gentleness of a lover he adorns the tresses of Summer.

My reputation grows with every failure.