Samuel Johnson

The chief glory of every people arises from its authors.

In traveling, a man must carry knowledge with him, if he would bring home knowledge.

Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it.

To keep your secret is wisdom, but to expect others to keep it is folly.

The mind is refrigerated by interruption; the thoughts are diverted from the principal subject; the reader is weary, he suspects not why; and at last throws away the book, which he has too diligently studied.

The noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees is the high road that leads him to England.

Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members. The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs.

This self-love is the instrument of our preservation; it resembles the provision for the perpetuity of mankind: it is necessary, it is dear to us, it gives us pleasure, and we must conceal it.

A home without a cat-and a well-fed, well-petted and properly revered cat-may be a perfect home, perhaps, but how can it prove title?

Think with your whole body.

Opinions have vested interests just as men have.

Some will always be above others. Destroy the inequality today, and it will appear again tomorrow.

I have found men to be more kind than I expected, and less just.

The key to the age may be this, or that, or the other, as the young orators describe; the key to all ages is – Imbecility; imbecility in the vast majority of men, at all times, and, even in heroes, in all but certain eminent moments; victims of gravity, custom, and fear.

I am neither of the East nor of the West, no boundaries exist within my breast.

The love of life is necessary to the vigorous prosecution of any undertaking.

Belief consists in accepting the affirmations of the soul; unbelief, in denying them.

Failure is success if we learn from it.

The squirrel that you kill in jest, dies in earnest.

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

Those who would mend the world must first mend themselves.