All unnecessary vows are folly, because they suppose a prescience of the future, which has not been given us. Samuel Johnson More Quotes by Samuel Johnson More Quotes From Samuel Johnson Love is the wisdom of the fool and the folly of the wise. Samuel Johnson wisedreamlove Fraud and falsehood only dread examination. Truth invites it. Samuel Johnson fraudexaminationdread To tell your own secrets is generally folly, but that folly is without guilt; to communicate those with which we are intrusted is always treachery, and treachery for the most part combined with folly. Samuel Johnson secrecyguiltsecret The rules that I shall propose concerning secrecy, and from which I think it not safe to deviate without long and exact deliberation, are, never to solicit the knowledge of a secret,--not willingly, nor without many limitations, to accept such confidence when it is offered; when a secret is once admitted, to consider the trust as of a very high nature, important as society and sacred as truth, and therefore not to be violated for any incidental convenience, or slight appearance of contrary fitness. Samuel Johnson secretlongthinking A man who both spends and saves money is the happiest man, because he has both enjoyments. Samuel Johnson happiest-manmoneymen A man's mind grows narrow in a narrow place. Samuel Johnson mindmentravel Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one step of success to another, forming new wishes and seeing them gratified. Samuel Johnson achievementmotivationallife Your aspirations are your possibilities. Samuel Johnson dreamattitudefriendship Many of our miseries are merely comparative: we are often made unhappy, not by the presence of any real evil, but by the absence of some fictitious good; of something which is not required by any real want of nature, which has not in itself any power of gratification, and which neither reason nor fancy would have prompted us to wish, did we not see it in the possession of others. Samuel Johnson realevilwish Power is not sufficient evidence of truth. Samuel Johnson evidencegood-and-evilsufficient Prejudice, not being founded on reason, cannot be removed by argument. Samuel Johnson atheismprejudicereligion To preserve health is a moral and religious duty: for health is the basis of all social virtues; and we can be useful no longer than while we are well. Samuel Johnson healthreligiousexercise When any calamity is suffered, the first thing to be remembered is, how much has been escaped. Samuel Johnson tragedysufferingfirsts Life consists not of a series of illustrious actions or elegant enjoyments. The greater part of our time passes in compliance with necessities, in the performance of daily duties, in the removal of small inconveniences, in the procurement of petty pleasures; and we are well or ill at ease, as the main stream of life glides on smoothly, or is ruffled by small obstacles and frequent interruption. Samuel Johnson actioneaselife Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last. Samuel Johnson passionwisetravel Life is but short; no time can be afforded but for the indulgence of real sorry, or contests upon questions seriously momentous. Let us not throw away any of our days upon useless resentment, or contend who shall hold out longest in stubborn malignity. It is best not to be angry; and best, in the next place, to be quickly reconciled. Samuel Johnson angerrealsorry From thee, great God, we spring, to thee we tend,- Path, motive, guide, original, and end. Samuel Johnson originalitypathspring It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust. Samuel Johnson trustpaincheating Each person's work is always a portrait of himself. Samuel Johnson portraitspersonssuccess Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties. Samuel Johnson pleasureworksuccess
