Samuel Johnson

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

I know not, Madam, that you have a right, upon moral principles, to make your readers suffer so much.

Between falsehood and useless truth there is little difference. As gold which he cannot spend will make no man rich, so knowledge which cannot apply will make no man wise.

No man was ever great by imitation.

Youth enters the world with very happy prejudices in her own favor. She imagines herself not only certain of accomplishing every adventure, but of obtaining those rewards which the accomplishment may deserve. She is not easily persuaded to believe that the force of merit can be resisted by obstinacy and avarice, or its luster darkened by envy and malignity.

Life will not bear refinement. You must do as other people do.

The savage in man is never quite eradicated.

I am not able to instruct you. I can only tell that I have chosen wrong. I have passed my time in study without experience; in the attainment of sciences which can, for the most part, be but remotely useful to mankind. I have purchased knowledge at the expense of all the common comforts of life: I have missed the endearing elegance of female friendship, and the happy commerce of domestic tenderness.

The sum of wisdom is that time is never lost that is devoted to work.

Health is the condition of wisdom, and the sign is cheerfulness – an open and noble temper.

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

Life would be tolerable but for its amusements.

He is no wise man who will quit a certainty for an uncertainty.

People sleep, and when they die they wake.

Obviously, as you grow up, no one’s ever 100 percent proud of every decision that they’ve made, and that’s OK. I think as long as you learn from your mistakes and don’t make them over and over again, you’re on the right path.

There are charms made only for distance admiration.

Children sweeten labours, but they make misfortunes more bitter.

This body of mine is my teacher. This heart of mine, my guide. My dear head struggles to make sense of it all whilst my hands gently remind me to trust and let go.

I have never taken any exercise except sleeping and resting.

God was satisfied with his own work, and that is fatal.

It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.