...a common observation, that few are mended by imprisonment, and that he, whose crimes have made confinement necessary, seldom makes any other use of his enlargement, than to do, with greater cunning, what he did before with less. Samuel Johnson More Quotes by Samuel Johnson More Quotes From Samuel Johnson He left the name at which the world grew pale, To point a moral, or adorn a tale. Samuel Johnson moral names world To set the mind above the appetites is the end of abstinence, which one of the Fathers observes to be not a virtue, but the groundwork of virtue. Samuel Johnson virtue abstinence mind If he does really think that there is no distinction between virtue and vice, why, sir, when he leaves our houses let us count our spoons. Samuel Johnson vices house thinking Bias and impartiality is in the eye of the beholder. Samuel Johnson beholder perspective eye As the mind must govern the hands, so in every society the man of intelligence must direct the man of labor. Samuel Johnson intelligence men hands A thousand years may elapse before there shall appear another man with a power of versification equal to that of Pope. Samuel Johnson power men years It is commonly observed, that when two Englishmen meet, their first talk is of the weather; they are in haste to tell each other, what each must already know, that it is hot or cold, bright or cloudy, windy or calm. Samuel Johnson haste weather two Surely nothing is more reproachful to a being endowed with reason, than to resign its powers to the influence of the air, and live in dependence on the weather and the wind, for the only blessings which nature has put into our power, tranquillity and benevolence. To look up to the sky for the nutriment of our bodies, is the condition of nature; to call upon the sun for peace and gaiety, or deprecate the clouds lest sorrow should overwhelm us, is the cowardice of idleness, and the idolatry of folly. Samuel Johnson blessing air clouds Sleep undisturbed within this peaceful shrine, Samuel Johnson peaceful angel sleep Few faults of style, whether real or imaginary, excite the malignity of a more numerous class of readers, than the use of hard words. Samuel Johnson vocabulary real class Difference of thoughts will produce difference of language. He that thinks with more extent than another, will want words of a larger meaning; he that thinks with more subtilty will seek for terms of more nice discrimination; and where is the wonder, since words are but the images of things, that he who never knew the original should not know the copies? Samuel Johnson vocabulary nice thinking In questions of law or of fact conscience is very often confounded with opinion. No man's conscience can tell him the rights of another man; they must be known by rational investigation or historical inquiry. Samuel Johnson wisdom rights men Luncheon: as much food as one's hand can hold. Samuel Johnson culinary lunch hands Dogs have not the power of comparing. A dog will take a small piece of meat as readily as a large, when both are before him. Samuel Johnson pieces meat dog This is my history; like all other histories, a narrative of misery. Samuel Johnson misery narrative history They that have grown old in a single state are generally found to be morose, fretful and captious; tenacious of their own practices and maxims; soon offended by contradiction or negligence; and impatient of any association but with those that will watch their nod, and submit themselves to unlimited authority. Samuel Johnson association practice watches I do not see, Sir, that it is reasonable for a man to be angry at another, whom a woman has preferred to him; but angry he is, no doubt; and he is loath to be angry at himself. Samuel Johnson doubt men science Disappointment, when it involves neither shame nor loss, is as good as success; for it supplies as many images to the mind, and as many topics to the tongue. Samuel Johnson disappointment loss success Books to judicious compilers, are useful; to particular arts and professions, they are absolutely necessary; to men of real science, they are tools: but more are tools to them. Samuel Johnson real book art Books are faithful repositories, which may be awhile neglected or forgotten; but when they are opened again, will again impart their instruction: memory, once interrupted, is not to be recalled. Written learning is a fixed luminary, which, after the cloud that had hidden it has passed away, is again bright in its proper station. Tradition is but a meteor, which, if once it falls, cannot be rekindled. Samuel Johnson memories book fall
