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Quote by Samuel Johnson

“In my early years I read very hard. It is a sad reflection, but a true one, that I knew almost as much at eighteen as I do now.”

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Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson was an English writer, poet, and lexicographer, renowned for his comprehensive English dictionary, 'A Dictionary of the English Language', published in 1755. His distinctive writing style and wit have cemented his place as a significant figure in the history of English literature. more

“Every man, however hopeless his pretensions may appear, has some project by which he hopes to rise to reputation; some art by which he imagines that the attention of the world will be attracted; some quality, good or bad, which discriminates him from the common herd of mortals, and by which others may be persuaded to love, or compelled to fear him.”

Men World May Art Common Attention Quality Imagine Fame Projects Every Man Reputation Mortals Hopeless Imagine That Compelled Herds Pretension

Author:Samuel Johnson

“A little skill in antiquity inclines a man to Popery.”

Men Littles Skills Catholicism Antiquity Incline

Book:The Holy State and the Profane State

Source: The Holy State and the Profane State

“Shakespeare never had six lines together without a fault. Perhaps you may find seven, but this does not refute my general assertion.”

May Doe Together Lines Six Faults Seven Assertion

Book:Johnson on Shakespeare: Essays and Notes

Source: Johnson on Shakespeare: Essays and Notes

“We are perpetually moralists, but we are geometricians only by chance. Our intercourse with intellectual nature is necessary; our speculations upon matter are voluntary, and at leisure.”

Matter Chance Perception Intellectual Leisure Speculation Intercourse Moralist

Author:Samuel Johnson

“A fellow will hack half a year at a block of marble to make something in stone that hardly resembles a man. The value of statuary is owing to its difficulty. You would not value the finest head cut upon a carrot.”

Men Years Values Half Cutting Stones Difficulty Fellows Block Finest Sculpture Marble Hacks Carrots Owing Half A Year

Book:The life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D., comprehending an account of his studies, and numerous works, in chronological order: a series of his epistolary correspondence and conversations with many eminent persons; and various original pieces of his composition, never before published; the whole exhibiting a view of literature and literary men in Great Britain, for near half a century during which he flourished

Source: The life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D., comprehending an account of his studies, and numerous works, in chronological order: a series of his epistolary correspondence and conversations with many eminent persons; and various original pieces of his composition, never before published; the whole exhibiting a view of literature and literary men in Great Britain, for near half a century during which he flourished

“To make dictionaries is dull work.”

Dull Dictionary

Author:Samuel Johnson

“Was there ever yet anything written by mere man that was wished longer by its readers, excepting Don Quixote, Robinson Crusoe, and the Pilgrim's Progress?”

Men Progress Written Reader Mere Pilgrim Robinson Crusoe

Author:Samuel Johnson

Quote by Samuel Johnson

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