Instead of rating the man by his performances, we rate too frequently the performances by the man. 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 wisemenhands A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other. Samuel Johnson hookfoolfishing 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 squarescitiestogether 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 strangemindthinking Man's chief merit consists in resisting the impulses of his nature. Samuel Johnson merittemptationmen Authors and lovers always suffer some infatuation, from which only absence can set them free. Samuel Johnson loverssufferingwriting 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 blockcuttingmen To a poet nothing can be useless. Samuel Johnson poetuseless Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier, or not having been at sea. Samuel Johnson armymenthinking Wine gives a man nothing... it only puts in motion what had been locked up in frost. Samuel Johnson winedrinkingmen 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 focusexcellencehumor Love is only one of many passions. Samuel Johnson passionlove-is A man will turn over half a library to make one book. Samuel Johnson writingmenbook Poetry is the art of uniting pleasure with truth. Samuel Johnson unitingpoetryart 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 wisdomwiseknowledge Subordination tends greatly to human happiness. Were we all upon an equality, we should have no other enjoyment than mere animal pleasure. Samuel Johnson equalityanimalhappiness The happiest part of a man's life is what he passes lying awake in bed in the morning. Samuel Johnson good-morningsunshinelying The feeling of friendship is like that of being comfortably filled with roast beef; love, like being enlivened with champagne. Samuel Johnson foodlovefriendship 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 portraitspaindog
