Samuel Johnson

Labor, if it were not necessary for existence, would be indispensable for the happiness of man.

He that would be superior to external influences must first become superior to his own passions.

It is dangerous for mortal beauty, or terrestrial virtue, to be examined by too strong a light. The torch of Truth shows much that we cannot, and all that we would not, see.

There are innumerable questions to which the inquisitive mind can in this state receive no answer: Why do you and I exist? Why was this world created? Since it was to be created, why was it not created sooner?

It is a most mortifying reflection for a man to consider what he has done, compared to what he might have done.

When a man says he had pleasure with a woman he does not mean conversation.

There is also this benefit in brag, that the speaker is unconsciously expressing his own ideal. Humor him by all means, draw it all out, and hold him to it.

It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.

Hegel was right when he said that we learn from history that man can never learn anything from history.

Every reform was once a private opinion, and when it shall be a private opinion again, it will solve the problem of the age.

Though wisdom cannot be gotten for gold, still less can be gotten without it.

Somewhere inside all of us is the power to change the world.

He is now rising from affluence to poverty.

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.

Everything that is made beautiful and fair and lovely is made for the eye of one who sees.

Age appears to be best in four things; old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.

The world is seldom what it seems; to man, who dimly sees, realities appear as dreams, and dreams realities.

If man had created man, he would be ashamed of his performance.

A broad margin of leisure is as beautiful in a man’s life as in a book. Haste makes waste, no less in life than in housekeeping. Keep the time, observe the hours of the universe, not of the cars.

We have a problem. Congratulations. But it’s a tough problem. Then double congratulations.

I’m taking more time to listen to myself. It’s allowed me to be an aggressive bad ass, calling it as I see it