Samuel Johnson

Youth enters the world with very happy prejudices in her own favor. She imagines herself not only certain of accomplishing every adventure, but of obtaining those rewards which the accomplishment may deserve. She is not easily persuaded to believe that the force of merit can be resisted by obstinacy and avarice, or its luster darkened by envy and malignity.

No man can taste the fruits of autumn while he is delighting his scent with the flowers of spring.

When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.

A decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization.

Sir, I have found you an argument. I am not obliged to find you an understanding.

There are charms made only for distant admiration.

By persisting in your path, though you forfeit the little, you gain the great.

Anger makes dull men witty – but it keeps them poor.

Avarice is generally the last passion of those lives of which the first part has been squandered in pleasure, and the second devoted to ambition. He that sinks under the fatigue of getting wealth, lulls his age with the milder business of saving it.

Nothing is too high for the daring of mortals: we storm heaven itself in our folly.

Of what use, however, is a general certainty that an insect will not walk with his head hindmost, when what you need to know is the play of inward stimulus that sends him hither and thither in a network of possible paths?

Having power is not nearly as important as what you choose to do with it.

The applause of a single human being is of great consequence.

To delay justice, is injustice.

Poverty consist in feeling poor.

Many a man’s strength is in opposition, and when he faileth, he grows out of use.

See only that thou work and thou canst not escape the reward.

Remember who you are.

A perfectly healthy sentence, it is true, is extremely rare. For the most part we miss the hue and fragrance of the thought; as if we could be satisfied with the dews of the morning or evening without their colors, or the heavens without their azure.

A man is usually more careful of his money than he is of his principles.

Water is the only drink for a wise man.