Samuel Johnson

There is nothing, Sir, too little for so little a creature as man. It is by studying little things that we attain the great art of having as little misery and as much happiness as possible.

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.

Curiosity is one of the most permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.

He that thinks he can afford to be negligent is not far from being poor.

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

Life is not long, and too much of it must not pass in idle deliberation how it shall be spent.

Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes; adversity not without many comforts and hopes.

How lovely the little river is, with its dark changing wavelets! It seems to me like a living companion while I wander along the bank, and listen to its low, placid voice…

Consequences are unpitying.

Where you stand depends on where you sit.

For it is not possible to join serpentine wisdom with columbine innocency, except men know exactly all the conditions of the serpent: his baseness and going upon his belly, his volubility and lubricity, his envy and sting, and the rest; that is, all forms and natures of evil: for without this, virtue lieth open and unfenced.

Union may be strength, but it is mere blind brute strength unless wisely directed.

Any emotion, if it is sincere, is involuntary.

Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.

The hottest love has the coldest end.

To a philosopher all news, as it is called, is gossip, an they who edit and read it are old women over their tea.

Always do what you are afraid to do.

Nothing is more hopeless than a scheme of merriment.

As to marriage or celibacy, let a man take which course he will, he will be sure to repent.

Curiosity is one of the most permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.

The only living works are those which have drained much of the author’s own life into them.