Samuel Johnson

He who does not mind his belly, will hardly mind anything else.

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

Depend upon it, Sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.

I have thought of a pulley to raise me gradually; but that would give me pain, as it would counteract my natural inclination. I would have something that can dissipate the inertia and give elasticity to the muscles. We can heat the body, we can cool it; we can give it tension or relaxation; and surely it is possible to bring it into a state in which rising from bed will not be a pain.

Hunger is never delicate; they who are seldom gorged to the full with praise may be safely fed with gross compliments, for the appetite must be satisfied before it is disgusted.

A fly may sting a stately horse and make him wince; but one is but an insect, and the other is a horse still.

I cannot forgive a scholar his homeless despondency.

The artists must be sacrificed to their art. Like the bees, they must put their lives into the sting they give.

Half the vices which the world condemns most loudly have seeds of good in them and require moderate use rather than total abstinence.

That which is false troubles the heart, but truth brings joyous tranquility.

Allow children to be happy in their own way, for what better way will they find?

We are armed with language adequate to describe each leaf of the filed, but not to describe human character.

The beginning is the most important part of the work.

The human race was always interesting and we know by its past that it will always continue so, monotonously.

Among all forms of mistake, prophecy is the most gratuitous.

Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm and constant.

Any coward can fight a battle when he’s sure of winning, but give me the man who has pluck to fight when he’s sure of losing. That’s my way, sir; and there are many victories worse than a defeat.

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

For knowledge itself is power.

Englishmen hate Liberty and Equality too much to understand them. But every Englishman loves a pedigree.

I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.