Quotes from Samuel Johnson
History can be formed from permanent monuments and records; but lives can only be written from personal knowledge, which is growing every day less, and in a short time is lost forever.
- Samuel Johnson
Reason will by degrees submit to absurdity, as the eye is in time accommodated to darkness.
- Samuel Johnson
The stream of Time, which is continually washing the dissoluble fabrics of other poets, passes without injury by the adamant of Shakespeare.
- Samuel Johnson
In Shakespeare's plays, the mourner hastening to bury his friend is all the time colliding with the reveller hastening to his wine.
- Samuel Johnson
Time is, of all modes of existence, most obsequious to the imagination.
- Samuel Johnson
We never do anything consciously for the last time without sadness of heart.
- Samuel Johnson
Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.
- Samuel Johnson
The wretched have no compassion, they can do good only from strong principles of duty.
- Samuel Johnson
The greatest part of a writer's time is spent in reading in order to write. A man will turn over half a library to make a book.
- Samuel Johnson
In traveling, a man must carry knowledge with him, if he would bring home knowledge.
- Samuel Johnson
Never trust your tongue when your heart is bitter.
- Samuel Johnson
We are told, that the black bear is innocent; but I should not like to trust myself with him.
- Samuel Johnson