A thousand years may elapse before there shall appear another man with a power of versification equal to that of Pope. Samuel Johnson More Quotes by Samuel Johnson More Quotes From Samuel Johnson Every man is prompted by the love of himself to imagine that he possesses some qualities, superior, either in kind or degree, to those which he sees allotted to the rest of the world; and, whatever apparent disadvantages he may suffer in the comparison with others, he has some invisible distinctions, some latent reserve of excellence, which he throws into the balance, and by which he generally fancies that it is turned in his favour. Samuel Johnson excellencesufferingmen Nobody can be taught faster than he can learn. Samuel Johnson taughtfaster We often look with indifference on the successive parts of something that, if the whole were seen together, would shake us with emotion. Samuel Johnson emotiontogetherlooks True enjoyments also keep people from vice. Samuel Johnson enjoymentvicespeople Youth enters the world with very happy prejudices in her own favour. Samuel Johnson favourprejudiceworld To proportion the eagerness of contest to its importance seems too hard a task for human wisdom. The pride of wit has kept ages busy in the discussion of useless questions, and the pride of power has destroyed armies, to gain or to keep unprofitable possessions. Samuel Johnson armyprideage Quack: A boastful pretender to arts which he does not understand. A vain boastful pretender to physick; An artful, tricking practitioner in physick. Samuel Johnson vaindoeart A man in a jail has more room, better food, and commonly better company Samuel Johnson sailingjailmen A transition from an author's book to his conversation, is too often like an entrance into a large city. Samuel Johnson transitioncitiesbook Among other pleasing errors of young minds is the opinion of their own importance. He that has not yet remarked, how little attention his contemporaries can spare from themselves, conceives all eyes turned upon himself, and imagines everyone that approaches him to be an enemy or a follower, an admirer or a spy. Samuel Johnson errorseyemind Club: An assembly of good fellows, meeting under certain conditions. Samuel Johnson assemblyclubscertain Discord generally operates in little things; it is inflamed ... by contrariety of taste oftener than principles. Samuel Johnson tasteprincipleslittles Ease, a neutral state between pain and pleasure ... if it is not rising into pleasure will be falling towards pain. Samuel Johnson risingpainfall Excise: A hateful tax levied upon commodities, and adjudged not by the common judges of property, but wretches hired by those to whom excise is paid. Samuel Johnson hatefuljudgingcommon Expectation improperly indulged in must end in disappointment. Samuel Johnson disappointmentendsexpectations Friendship may well deserve the sacrifice of pleasure, though not of conscience. Samuel Johnson sacrificepleasuremay I would injure no man, and should provoke no resentment. I would relieve every distress, and should enjoy the benedictions of gratitude. I would choose my friends among the wise and my wife among the virtuous, and therefore should be in no danger from treachery or unkindness. My children should by my care be learned and pious, and would repay to my age what their childhood had received. Samuel Johnson gratitudewisechildren If useless thoughts could be expelled from the mind, all the valuable parts of our knowledge would more frequently recur. Samuel Johnson valuableuselessmind Ignorance, when it is voluntary, is criminal. Samuel Johnson criminalsignorance It is strange that there should be so little reading in the world, and so much writing. People in general do not willingly read, if they can have any thing else to amuse them. Samuel Johnson readingwritingpeople
