Samuel Johnson

The return of my birthday, if I remember it, fills me with thoughts which it seems to be the general care of humanity to escape.

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

He was dull in a new way, and that made many think him great.

The traveler that resolutely follows a rough and winding path will sooner reach the end of his journey than he that is always changing his direction, and wastes the hour of daylight in looking for smoother ground and shorter passages.

Parents and children seldom act in concert: each child endeavors to appropriate the esteem or fondness of the parents, and the parents, with yet less temptation, betray each other to their children.

Poetry is the art of uniting pleasure with truth.

Each time you learn something new you must readjust the whole framework of your knowledge

Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end, We are in great haste to construct a magnetic telegraph from Maine to Texas; but Maine and Texas, it may be, have nothing important to communicate.

If I seem to boast more than is becoming, my excuse is that I brag for humanity rather than for myself.

In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.

Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.

As soon as beauty is sought not from religion and love, but for pleasure, it degrades the seeker.

If we don’t occupy ourself with everything, then peaceful mind will have nowhere to abide.

We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills;we shall never surrender.

The only failure a man ought to fear is failure in cleaving to the purpose he sees to be best.

You’ve got a big, big problem if you get caught up in what people say. If you’re gonna live for what people say, you might as well lay down and forget it. Because it doesn’t work that way.

George Washington, as a boy, was ignorant of the commonest accomplishments of youth. He could not even lie.

Tread softly, Breathe peacefully, Laugh hysterically.

Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop.

In this magical hour, as the black ink sky fades to forget-me-not grey and the Cyprus trees emerge from the shadows, I tune in to my heart. In clarity, I choose to step into freedom to bring lightness of being and to be love.

The habit of looking on the best side of every event is worth more than a thousand pounds a years.