Samuel Johnson

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

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.

Criticism is a study by which men grow important and formidable at very small expense. He whom nature has made weak, and idleness keeps ignorant, may yet support his vanity by the name of a critic.

It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives. The act of dying is not of importance, it lasts so short a time.

Turn on the prudent ant thy heedful eyes. Observe her labors, sluggard, and be wise.

There are charms made only for distant admiration.

We shall show mercy, but we shall not ask for it.

Though analogy is often misleading, it is the least misleading thing we have.

Thank God men cannot fly, and lay waste the sky as well as the earth.

Stay with me,’ he said, ‘until the sun goes out, the seas are parched, and the wind draws its last breath.

For a crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love.

I teach that all men are mad.

I was not the lion, but it fell to me to give the lion’s roar.

Men cease to interest us when we find their limitations.

The fickleness of the women I love is only equaled by the infernal constancy of the women who love me.

Virtue is too often merely local.

Heroism feels and never reasons, and therefore is always right.

It were Happy if we studied Nature more in natural Things; and acted according to Nature; whose rules are few, plain and most reasonable.

God hangs the greatest weights upon the smallest wires.

Rest in reason; move in passion.

Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.