Samuel Johnson

Of all noises, I think music is the least disagreeable.

A man is in general better pleased when he has a good dinner upon his table, than when his wife talks Greek.

A man who exposes himself when he is intoxicated, has not the art of getting drunk.

No man is a hypocrite in his pleasures.

Depend upon it that if a man talks of his misfortunes there is something in them that is not disagreeable to him.

To let friendship die away by negligence and silence is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of the weary pilgrimage.

To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men – that is genius.

I often quote myself. It adds spice to my conversation.

As the Spanish proverb says, He who would bring home the wealth of the Indies, must carry the wealth of the Indies with him. So it is in travelling; a man must carry knowledge with him, if he would bring home knowledge.

Don’t do or say things you would not like to see on the front page of The Washington Post.

It is hard to go beyond your public. If they are satisfied with cheap performance, you will not easily arrive at better. If they know what is good, and require it. you will aspire and burn until you achieve it. But from time to time, in history, men are born a whole age too soon.

The betrothed and accepted lover has lost the wildest charms of his maiden by her acceptance. She was heaven while he pursued her, but she cannot be heaven if she stoops to one such as he!

To think is to practice brain chemistry.

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail.

I will be conquered; I will not capitulate.

The poets aim is either to profit or to please, or to blend in one the delightful and the useful. Whatever the lesson you would convey, be brief, that your hearers may catch quickly what is said and faithfully retain it. Every superfluous word is spilled from the too-full memory.

A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.

Flow with whatever may happen, and let your mind be free: Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate.

Heaven is the work of the best and kindest men and women. Hell is the work of prigs, pedants and professional truth-tellers. The world is an attempt to make the best of Heaven and Hell.

The virtue in most request is conformity.

Short words are the best and old words when short are best of all.