Samuel Johnson

The highest panegyric, therefore, that private virtue can receive, is the praise of servants.

A continual feast of commendation is only to be obtained by merit or by wealth: many are therefore obliged to content themselves with single morsels, and recompense the infrequency of their enjoyment by excess and riot, whenever fortune sets the banquet before them.

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

Sir, you have but two topics, yourself and me. I am sick of both.

When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.

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.

It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.

In peace, as a wise man, he should make suitable preparation for war.

Everything’s fine today, that is our illusion.

Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.

He has not lived badly whose birth and death has been unnoticed by the world.

If we are but sure the end is right, we are too apt to gallop over all bounds to compass it; not considering the lawful ends may be very unlawfully attained.

Do what good thou canst unknown, and be not vain of what ought rather to be felt than seen.

A habit cannot be tossed out the window; it must be coaxed down the stairs a step at a time.

Events tend to recur in cycles.

Human ‘beans’ is the only animals that is killing their own kind.

Civilisation will not last, freedom will not survive, peace will not be kept, unless a very large majority of mankind unite together to defend them and show themselves possessed of a constabulary power before which barbaric and atavistic forces will stand in awe.

Trust instinct to the end, even though you can give no reason.

Why do the words I want to say, struggle to come out of my mouth. Why does fear have such a grip over me. I shouldn’t have to battle to say all the complimentary things I so desperately want to share. It shouldn’t be this hard, that I have to force myself; it’s wrong that such loving words, should have to be spoken under such duress. I’m aware of how wrong it is, but withholding is all I have known, even though I desire so badly to share my thoughts and feelings with you, as freely as you do with me.

Subordination tends greatly to human happiness. Were we all upon an equality, we should have no other enjoyment than mere animal pleasure.

This mournful truth is everywhere confessed, slow rises worth by poverty depressed.