Quotes from Samuel Johnson

what reason did not dictate, reason cannot explain.

The chief glory of every people arises from its authors.

A secret in his mouth, is like a wild bird put into a cage; whose door no sooner opens, but 'tis out.

Whoever thou art that, not content with a moderate condition, imaginest happiness in royal magnificence, and dreamest that command or riches can feed the appetite of novelty with perpetual gratifications, survey the Pyramids, and confess thy folly!

People have now a-days, (said he,) got a strange opinion that every thing should be taught by lectures. Now, I cannot see that lectures can do so much good as reading the books from which the lectures are taken. I know nothing that can be best taught by lectures, except where experiments are to be shewn. You may teach chymistry by lectures.—You might teach making of shoes by lectures!

If the changes that we fear be thus irresistible, what remains but to acquiesce with silence, as in the other insurmountable distresses of humanity? It remains that we retard what we cannot repel, that we palliate what we cannot cure. Life may be lengthened by care, though death cannot be ultimately defeated: tongues, like governments, have a natural tendency to degeneration; we have long preserved our constitution, let us make some struggles for our language.

To bring back riches from the East you must bring riches with you.

Every quotation contributes something to the stability or enlargement of the language.

Where then shall Hope and Fear their objects find? Must dull Suspense corrupt the stagnant Mind? Must helpless Man, in ignorance sedate, Roll darkling down the Torrent of his Fate? Must no Dislike alarm, no Wishes rise, Nor Cries invoke the Mercies of the Skies? Enquirer, cease, Petitions yet remain Which Heaven may hear, nor deem Religion vain. Still raise for Good the supplicating Voice, But leave to Heaven the Measure and the Choice.

The noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees, is the high road that leads him to England!

which has the power or quality of adding. The additory fiction gives to a great man a larger share of reputation than belongs to him, to enable him to serve some good end or purpose.Arbuthnot'sArt of political Lying.

You must not neglect doing a thing immediately good from fear of remote evil; --from fear of its being abused.