Samuel Johnson Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old Samuel Johnson quotes, Samuel Johnson sayings, and Samuel Johnson proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.'

Get together a hundred or two men, however sensible they may be, and you are very likely to have a mob Samuel Johnson
Parents and children seldom act in concert: each child endeavors to appropriate the esteem or fondness of the parents, and the parents, with yet less temptation, betray each other to their children. Samuel Johnson
Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks. Samuel Johnson
Great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance. Those that walk with vigor, three hours a day, will pass in seven years a space equal to the circumference of the globe. Samuel Johnson
That observation which is called knowledge of the world will be found much more frequently to make men cunning than good. Samuel Johnson
A married man has many cares, but a bachelor no pleasures. Samuel Johnson
There may be community of material possessions, but there can never be community of love or esteem. Samuel Johnson
A blade of grass is always a blade of grass, whether in one country or another. Samuel Johnson
When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford. Samuel Johnson
The charm of London is that you are never glad or sorry for ten minutes together; in the country you are one or the other for weeks. Samuel Johnson
Prudence keeps life safe, but it does not often make it happy. Samuel Johnson
The great end of prudence is to give cheerfulness to those hours which splendor cannot gild, and acclamation cannot exhilarate. Samuel Johnson
He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man. Samuel Johnson
Curiosity is one of the most permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect. Samuel Johnson
He who does not mind his belly, will hardly mind anything else. Samuel Johnson
The power of punishment is to silence, not to confute. Samuel Johnson
Of all noises, I think music is the least disagreeable. Samuel Johnson
Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful. Samuel Johnson
No man is much pleased with a companion who does not increase, in some respect, his fondness of himself. Samuel Johnson
Let us be quick to repent of injuries while repentance may not be a barren anguish. Samuel Johnson
All intellectual improvement arises from leisure. Samuel Johnson
The worst evils are those that never arrive. Samuel Johnson
Patience and submission are very carefully to be distinguished from cowardice and indolence. We are not to repine, but we may lawfully struggle; for the calamities of life, like the necessities of Nature, are calls to labor and diligence. Samuel Johnson
I have always considered it as treason against the great republic of human nature, to make any man's virtues the means of deceiving him. Samuel Johnson
Cunning differs from wisdom as twilight from open day. Samuel Johnson
Sorrow is the mere rust of the soul. Activity will cleanse and brighten it. Samuel Johnson
When emulation leads us to strive for self-elevation by merit alone, and not by belittling another, then it is one of the grandest possible incentives to action. Samuel Johnson
No place affords a more striking conviction of the vanity of human hopes than a public library. Samuel Johnson
To let friendship die away by negligence and silence is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of the weary pilgrimage. Samuel Johnson
Remember that nothing will supply the want of prudence, and that negligence and irregularity long continued will make knowledge useless, wit ridiculous, and genius contemptible. Samuel Johnson