Samuel Johnson

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

Politics are now nothing more than means of rising in the world. With this sole view do men engage in politics, and their whole conduct proceeds upon it.

He that would be superior to external influences must first become superior to his own passions.

If a madman were to come into this room with a stick in his hand, no doubt we should pity the state of his mind; but our primary consideration would be to take care of ourselves. We should knock him down first, and pity him afterwards.

Life is a progress from want to want, not from enjoyment to enjoyment.

To see helpless infancy stretching out her hands, and pouring out her cries in testimony of dependence, without any powers to alarm jealousy, or any guilt to alienate affection, must surely awaken tenderness in every human mind; and tenderness once excited will be hourly increased by the natural contagion of felicity, by the repercussion of communicated pleasure, by the consciousness of dignity of benefaction.

Don’t seek, don’t search, don’t ask, don’t knock, don’t demand — relax!

Criticism, as it was first instituted by Aristotle, was meant as a standard of judging well.

If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life.

Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.

Of all God’s creatures there is only one that cannot be made the slave of the lash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with a cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat.

Work is life, you know, and without it, there’s nothing but fear and insecurity.

Lord save us all from a hope tree that has lost the faculty of putting out blossoms.

It is always from a minority acting in ways different from what the majority would prescribe that the majority in the end learns to do better.

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

Beauty rests on necessities.

Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of congress; but I repeat myself.

The responsibility of tolerance lies in those who have the wider vision.

What if… everything you are going through is preparing you for what you asked for?

Energy doesn’t lie so trust those vibes you’re getting.

When a man is in doubt about this or that in his writing, it will often guide him if he asks himself how it will tell a hundred years hence.