Samuel Johnson

Nature has given women so much power that the law has very wisely given them little.

His scorn of the great is repeated too often to be real; no man thinks much of that which he despises.

Worth seeing? Yes; but not worth going to see.

There are minds so impatient of inferiority that their gratitude is a species of revenge, and they return benefits not because recompense is a pleasure for them, but because obligation is a pain.

The most fatal disease of friendship is gradual decay, or dislike hourly increased by causes too slender for complaint, and too numerous for removal.

Promise, large promise, is the soul of an advertisement.

Some people have a foolish way of not minding, or pretending not to mind, what they eat. For my part, I mind my belly very studiously, and very carefully; for I look upon it, that he who does not mind his belly, will hardly mind anything else.

Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.

Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over.

When a person cannot deceive himself the chances are against his being able to deceive other people.

Where charity keeps pace with grain, industry is blessed, but to slave to get, and keep it sordidly, is a sin against Providence, a vice in government and an injury to their neighbours.

Surely a long life must be somewhat tedious, since we are forced to call in so many trifling things to help rid us of our time, which will never return.

Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway.

The two parties which divide the state, the party of Conservatism and that of Innovation, are very old, and have disputed the possession of the world ever since it was made.

Miss Brooke had that kind of beauty which seems to be thrown into relief by poor dress.

A man is in general better pleased when he has a good dinner upon his table, than when his wife talks Greek.

Discretion of speech is more than eloquence, and to speak agreeably to him with whom we deal is more than to speak in good words, or in good order.

We judge of man’s wisdom by his hope.

Mortals are easily tempted to pinch the life out of their neighbour’s buzzing glory, and think that such killing is no murder.

Important encounters are planned by the souls long before the bodies see each other.

You have to choose between trusting to the natural stability of gold and the natural stability of the honesty and intelligence of the members of the Government. And, with due respect for these gentlemen, I advise you, as long as the Capitalist system lasts, to vote for gold.