Quotes from Samuel Johnson
The life of a conscientious clergyman is not easy. I have always considered a clergyman as the father of a larger family than he is able to maintain. I would rather have chancery suits upon my hands than the cure of souls.
- Samuel Johnson
A man may be so much of everything that he is nothing of everything.
- Samuel Johnson
Shame arises from the fear of man; conscience from the fear of God.
- Samuel Johnson
That is the happiest conversation where there is no competition, no vanity, but a calm quiet interchange of sentiments.
- Samuel Johnson
Many things difficult to design prove easy to performance.
- Samuel Johnson
One of the disadvantages of wine is that is makes a man mistake words for thoughts.
- Samuel Johnson
Men are like stone jugs - you may lug them where you like by the ears.
- Samuel Johnson
That friendship may be at once fond and lasting, there must not only be equal virtue on each part, but virtue of the same kind; not only the same end must be proposed, but the same means must be approved by both.
- Samuel Johnson
There is certainly no greater happiness than to be able to look back on a life usefully and virtuously employed, to trace our own progress in existence by such tokens as excite neither shame nor sorrow.
- Samuel Johnson
Hope is necessary in every condition. The miseries of poverty, sickness and captivity would, without this comfort, be insupportable.
- Samuel Johnson
No man is a hypocrite in his pleasures.
- Samuel Johnson
It is wonderful to think how men of very large estates not only spend their yearly income, but are often actually in want of money. It is clear, they have not value for what they spend.
- Samuel Johnson