Samuel Johnson

We are inclined to believe those whom we don not know because they have never deceived us.

It is very strange, and very melancholy, that the paucity of human pleasures should persuade us ever to call hunting one of them.

My dear friend, clear your mind of cant [excessive thought]. You may talk as other people do: you may say to a man, Sir, I am your most humble servant. You are not his most humble servant. You may say, These are bad times; it is a melancholy thing to be reserved to such times. You don’t mind the times … You may talk in this manner; it is a mode of talking in Society; but don’t think foolishly.

Sir, I do not call a gamester a dishonest man; but I call him an unsociable man, an unprofitable man. Gaming is a mode of transferring property without producing any intermediate good.

In a man’s letters you know, Madam, his soul lies naked, his letters are only the mirror of his breast, whatever passes within him is shown undisguised in its natural process. Nothing is inverted, nothing distorted, you see systems in their elements, you discover actions in their motives.

The luster of diamonds is invigorated by the interposition of darker bodies; the lights of a picture are created by the shades; the highest pleasure which nature has indulged to sensitive perception is that of rest after fatigue.

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.

What Englishman will give his mind to politics as long as he can afford to keep a motor car?

Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. Let them be your only diet, drink, and botanical medicines.

The report of my death was an exaggeration.

The fewer our wants the more we resemble the Gods.

If you strike a child, take care that you strike it in anger, even at the risk of maiming it for life. A blow in cold blood neither can nor should be forgiven.

The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables, posse comitatus, etc. In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense; but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well. Such command no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs. Yet such as these even are commonly esteemed good citizens. Others

There is but one step from the Academy to the Fad.

No matter how carefully you plan your goals they will never be more than pipe dreams unless you pursue them with gusto.

Ah! Sir, a boy’s being flogged is not so severe as a man’s having the hiss of the world against him.

The greatest genius is the most indebted person.

Only kings, presidents, editors, and people with tapeworms have the right to use the editorial “we.”

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

The highest compact we can make with our fellow is – Let there be truth between us two forevermore.

Art is the path of the creator to his work.