He who waits to do a great deal of good at once will never do anything. Samuel Johnson More Quotes by Samuel Johnson More Quotes From Samuel Johnson No man was more foolish when he had not a pen in his hand, or more wise when he had Samuel Johnson wise men hands A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other. Samuel Johnson hook fool fishing Sir, if you wish to have a just notion of the magnitude of this city, you must not be satisfied with seeing its great streets and squares, but must survey the innumerable little lanes and courts. It is not in the showy evolutions of buildings, but in the multiplicity of human habitations which are crowded together, that the wonderful immensity of London consists. Samuel Johnson squares cities together What a strange narrowness of mind now is that, to think the things we have not known are better than the things we have known. Samuel Johnson strange mind thinking Man's chief merit consists in resisting the impulses of his nature. Samuel Johnson merit temptation men Authors and lovers always suffer some infatuation, from which only absence can set them free. Samuel Johnson lovers suffering writing A fellow will hack half a year at a block of marble to make something in stone that hardly resembles a man. The value of statuary is owing to its difficulty. You would not value the finest head cut upon a carrot. Samuel Johnson block cutting men To a poet nothing can be useless. Samuel Johnson poet useless Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier, or not having been at sea. Samuel Johnson army men thinking Wine gives a man nothing... it only puts in motion what had been locked up in frost. Samuel Johnson wine drinking men Words are but the signs of ideas. Samuel Johnson ideas Those who attain any excellence, commonly spend life in one pursuit; for excellence is not often gained upon easier terms. Samuel Johnson focus excellence humor Love is only one of many passions. Samuel Johnson passion love-is A man will turn over half a library to make one book. Samuel Johnson writing men book Poetry is the art of uniting pleasure with truth. Samuel Johnson uniting poetry art Between falsehood and useless truth there is little difference. As gold which he cannot spend will make no man rich, so knowledge which cannot apply will make no man wise. Samuel Johnson wisdom wise knowledge Subordination tends greatly to human happiness. Were we all upon an equality, we should have no other enjoyment than mere animal pleasure. Samuel Johnson equality animal happiness The happiest part of a man's life is what he passes lying awake in bed in the morning. Samuel Johnson good-morning sunshine lying The feeling of friendship is like that of being comfortably filled with roast beef; love, like being enlivened with champagne. Samuel Johnson food love friendship I had rather see the portrait of a dog that I know, than all the allegorical paintings they can show me in the world. Samuel Johnson portraits pain dog
