History can be formed from permanent monuments and records; but lives can only be written from personal knowledge, which is growing every day less, and in a short time is lost forever. Samuel Johnson More Quotes by Samuel Johnson More Quotes From Samuel Johnson From Bard, to Bard, the frigid Caution crept, Samuel Johnson bards passion drama When first the college rolls receive his name, Samuel Johnson quilts strong education It was the peculiar artifice of Habit not to suffer her power to be felt at first. Those whom she led, she had the address of appearing only to attend, but was continually doubling her chains upon her companions; which were so slender in themselves, and so silently fastened, that while the attention was engaged by other objects, they were not easily perceived. Each link grew tighter as it had been longer worn; and when by continual additions they became so heavy as to be felt, they were very frequently too strong to be broken. Samuel Johnson broken strong suffering Man is a transitory being, and his designs must partake of the imperfections their author. Samuel Johnson imperfection design men Domestic discord is not inevitably and fatally necessary; but yet it is not easy to avoid. Samuel Johnson discord easy Inquiries into the heart are not for man. Samuel Johnson inquiry heart men A newswriter is a man without virtue, who lies at home for his own profit. Samuel Johnson home men lying Always, Sir, set a high value on spontaneous kindness. Samuel Johnson spontaneous values kindness In Shakespeare's plays, the mourner hastening to bury his friend is all the time colliding with the reveller hastening to his wine. Samuel Johnson shakespeares-plays wine play In discussing these exceptions from the course of nature, the first question is, whether the fact be justly stated. That which is strange is delightful, and a pleasing error is not willingly detected. Samuel Johnson errors facts firsts We found in the course of our journey the convenience of having disencumbered ourselves, by laying aside whatever we could spare; for it is not to be imagined without experience, how in climbing crags and treading bogs, and winding through narrow and obstructed passages, a little bulk will hinder, and a little weight will burden; or how often a man that has pleased himself at home with his own resolution, will, in the hour of darkness and fatigue, be content to leave behind him everything but himself. Samuel Johnson journey home men Difficult do you call it, Sir? I wish it were impossible. Samuel Johnson difficult wish impossible To wipe all tears from off all faces is a task too hard for mortals; but to alleviate misfortunes is often within the most limited power: yet the opportunities which every day affords of relieving the most wretched of human beings are overlooked and neglected with equal disregard of policy and goodness. Samuel Johnson tasks tears opportunity A student may easily exhaust his life in comparing divines and moralists without any practical regard to morals and religion; he may be learning not to live but to reason... while the chief use of his volumes is unthought of, his mind is unaffected, and his life is unreformed. Samuel Johnson use mind may The joy of life is variety. Samuel Johnson joy-of-life life-is joy A gentleman who had been very unhappy in marriage, married immediately after his wife died; it was the triumph of hope over experience. Samuel Johnson gentleman wife unhappy Wine gives great pleasure, and every pleasure is of itself a good. and Samuel Johnson wine giving men We go from anticipation to anticipation, not from satisfaction to satisfaction. Samuel Johnson anticipation satisfaction Whisky making is the art of making poison pleasant Samuel Johnson whisky poison art ..to write and to live are very different. Many who praise virtue, do no more than praise it. Samuel Johnson different praise writing
