ESSAY -- A loose sally of the mind an irregular indigested piece not a regular and orderly composition. Samuel Johnson More Quotes by Samuel Johnson More Quotes From Samuel Johnson As he that lives longest lives but a little while, every man may be certain that he has no time to waste. The duties of life are commensurate to its duration; and every day brings its task, which, if neglected, is doubled on the morrow. Samuel Johnson tasksmaymen 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 progresssorrowmemories Books have always a secret influence on the understanding. Samuel Johnson understandingsecretbook In all pointed sentences, some degree of accuracy must be sacrificed to conciseness. Samuel Johnson accuracydegreeswriting Idleness and timidity often despair without being overcome, and forbear attempts for fear of being defeated; and we may promote the invigoration of faint endeavors, by showing what has already been performed. Samuel Johnson despairovercomingmay He that resigns his peace to little casualties, and suffers the course of his life to be interrupted for fortuitous inadvertencies or offences, delivers up himself to the direction of the wind, and loses all that constancy and equanimity which constitutes the chief praise of a wise man. Samuel Johnson wisewindmen Sir, I have found you an argument; but I am not obliged to find you an understanding. Samuel Johnson found-youstatisticsunderstanding What I gained by being in France was learning to be better satisfied with my own country. Samuel Johnson francesatisfiedcountry Life will not bear refinement. You must do as other people do. Samuel Johnson simplicitybearspeople Of riches it is not necessary to write the praise. Let it, however, be remembered that he who has money to spare has it always in his power to benefit others, and of such power a good man must always be desirous. Samuel Johnson good-manwritingmen We are more pained by ignorance than delighted by instruction. Samuel Johnson delightedinstructionignorance We have less reason to be surprised or offended when we find others differ from us in opinion, because we very often differ from ourselves. Samuel Johnson offendedopinionreason Advice, as it always gives a temporary appearance of superiority, can never be very grateful, even when it is most necessary or most judicious. But for the same reason everyone is eager to instruct his neighbours. To be wise or to be virtuous is to buy dignity and importance at a high price; but when nothing is necessary to elevation but detection of the follies or faults of others, no man is so insensible to the voice of fame as to linger on the ground. Samuel Johnson gratefulwisemen We may take Fancy for a companion, but must follow Reason as our guide. Samuel Johnson fancyreasonmay Among the many inconsistencies which folly produces or infirmity suffers in the human mind, there has often been observed a manifest and striking contrariety between the life of an author and his writings... Those whom the appearance of virtue or the evidence of genius has tempted to a nearer knowledge of the writer, in whose performances they may be found, have indeed had frequent reason to repent their curiosity. Samuel Johnson curiositymindwriting It is a maxim that no man was ever enslaved by influence while he was fit to be free. Samuel Johnson fitinfluencemen If we require more perfection from women than from ourselves, it is doing them honor. Samuel Johnson womenhonorperfection A person loves to review his own mind. That is the use of a diary, or journal. Samuel Johnson useminddiaries It is no matter what you teach them first, any more than what leg you shall put into your breeches first. You may stand disputing which is best to put in first, but in the mean time your breech is bare. Sir, while you are considering which of two things you should teach your child first, another boy has learned them both. Samuel Johnson educationmeanchildren Every man is rich or poor according to the proportion between his desires and his enjoyments; any enlargement of wishes is therefore equally destructive to happiness with the diminution of possession, and he that teaches another to long for what he never shall obtain is no less an enemy to his quiet than if he had robbed him of part of his patrimony Samuel Johnson rich-or-poormenlong
