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Quote by Samuel Johnson

“To me - the choice of life is become less important; I hope hereafter to think only on the choice of eternity.”

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Written by Samuel Johnson, Rasselas is a narrative that follows the young Prince Rasselas and his quest for enlightenment. The story is set in the Garden of Happiness, where Rasselas and his companions seek to understand the meaning of life and the nature of human happiness. more

Author

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

Book:The Works of Alexander Pope, Esq. in Verse and Prose: Containing the Principal Notes of Drs. Warburton and Warton: Illustrations, and Critical and Explanatory Remarks, by Johnson, Wakefield, A. Chalmers ... and Others; to which are Added, Now First Published, Some Original Letters, with Additional Observations, and Memoirs of the Life of the Author

Source: The Works of Alexander Pope, Esq. in Verse and Prose: Containing the Principal Notes of Drs. Warburton and Warton: Illustrations, and Critical and Explanatory Remarks, by Johnson, Wakefield, A. Chalmers ... and Others; to which are Added, Now First Published, Some Original Letters, with Additional Observations, and Memoirs of the Life of the Author

“It is thus that mutual cowardice keeps us in peace. Were one half of mankind brave and one cowards, the brave would be always beating the cowards. Were all brave, they would lead a very uneasy life; all would be continually fighting; but being all cowards, we go on very well.”

Wells Would Be Fighting Half Mankind Goes On Brave Mutual Coward Cowardice Uneasy One Half Easy Life

Author:Samuel Johnson

“Credulity is the common failing of inexperienced virtue; and he who is spontaneously suspicious may justly be charged with radical corruption.”

May Common Virtue Failing Corruption Radical Suspicious Credulity

Book:The Wisdom of the Rambler, Adventurer, and Idler

Source: The Wisdom of the Rambler, Adventurer, and Idler

“The difference between coarse and refined abuse is the difference between being bruised by a club and wounded by a poisoned arrow.”

Differences Abuse Clubs Cruelty Wounded Arrows Refined Bruised Coarse

Book:The Table Talk of Dr. Johnson: Comprising Opinions and Anecdotes of Life and Literature, Men, Manners, and Morals

Source: The Table Talk of Dr. Johnson: Comprising Opinions and Anecdotes of Life and Literature, Men, Manners, and Morals

“We are easily shocked by crimes which appear at once in their full magnitude, but the gradual growth of our own wickedness, endeared by interest, and palliated by all the artifices of self-deceit, gives us time to form distinctions in our own favor”

Giving Self Form Growth Interest Crime Favors Distinction Deceit Shocked Wickedness Magnitude Artifice

Book:The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D..: The Rambler

Source: The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D..: The Rambler

“Don't tell me of deception; a lie is a lie, whether it be a lie to the eye or a lie to the ear.”

Eye Lying Ears Deception Deceit

Book:Johnsoniana; or supplement to Boswell; being Anecdotes and sayings of Dr. Johnson, etc

Source: Johnsoniana; or supplement to Boswell; being Anecdotes and sayings of Dr. Johnson, etc

“Deceit and falsehood, whatever conveniences they may for a time promise or produce, are, in the sum of life, obstacles to happiness. Those who profit by the cheat distrust the deceiver; and the act by which kindness was sought puts an end to confidence.”

May Ends Kindness Produce Promise Profit Obstacles Deceit Falsehood Cheat Distrust Convenience Deceiver

Book:The beauties of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: consisting of maxims and observations, moral, critical, and miscellaneous: to which are now added biographical anecdotes of the doctor, selected from the works of Mrs. Piozzi;--his Life, recently published by Mr. Boswell, and other authentic testimonies; also his will, and the sermon he wrote for the late Doctor Dodd

Source: The beauties of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: consisting of maxims and observations, moral, critical, and miscellaneous: to which are now added biographical anecdotes of the doctor, selected from the works of Mrs. Piozzi;--his Life, recently published by Mr. Boswell, and other authentic testimonies; also his will, and the sermon he wrote for the late Doctor Dodd

“Friendship, peculiar boon of Heaven, The noble mind's delight and pride, To men and angels only given, To all the lower world denied.”

Men World Mind Given Heaven Pride Angel Delight Noble Peculiar Denied Boon

Book:The Poems of Dr. Samuel Johnson. To which is Prefixed, a Life of the Author

Source: The Poems of Dr. Samuel Johnson. To which is Prefixed, a Life of the Author

“Whatever withdraws us from the power of our senses; whatever makes the past, the distant, or the future predominate over the present, advances us in the dignity of thinking beings.”

Thinking Past Dignity Senses Frigid

Author:Samuel Johnson

Quote by Samuel Johnson

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