Lectures were once useful; but now when all can read, and books are so numerous, lectures are unnecessary. Samuel Johnson More Quotes by Samuel Johnson More Quotes From Samuel Johnson No member of a society has a right to teach any doctrine contrary to what the society holds to be true. Samuel Johnson censorship members doctrine It is certain that success naturally confirms in us a favourable opinion of our own abilities. Scarce any man is willing to allot to accident, friendship, and a thousand causes, which concur in every event without human contrivance or interposition, the part which they may justly claim in his advancement. We rate ourselves by our fortune rather than our virtues, and exorbitant claims are quickly produced by imaginary merit. Samuel Johnson events may men Sir, they are a race of convicts, and ought to be thankful for any thing we allow them short of hanging. Samuel Johnson grateful insulting race There is something in obstinacy which differs from every other passion. Whenever it fails, it never recovers, but either breaks like iron, or crumbles sulkily away, like a fractured arch. Most other passions have their periods of fatigue and rest, their sufferings and their cure; but obstinacy has no resource, and the first wound is mortal. Samuel Johnson iron passion suffering As the greatest liar tells more truths than falsehoods, so may it be said of the worst man, that he does more good than evil. Samuel Johnson evil liars men Marriage is the strictest tie of perpetual friendship, and there can be no friendship without confidence, and no confidence without integrity; and he must expect to be wretched, who pays to beauty, riches, or politeness that regard which only virtue and piety can claim. Samuel Johnson marriage ties integrity To be of no Church is dangerous. Samuel Johnson dangerous church religion As every one is pleased with imagining that he knows something not yet commonly divulged, secret history easily gains credit; but it is for the most part believed only while it circulates in whispers, and when once it is openly told, is openly refuted. Samuel Johnson scandal credit secret Everybody knows worse of himself than he knows of other men. Samuel Johnson secrecy knows men The poor and the busy have no leisure for sentimental sorrow. Samuel Johnson leisure sentimental sorrow Conjecture as to things useful, is good; but conjecture as to what it would be useless to know, is very idle. Samuel Johnson useless theory would-be Let observation with extensive view, Survey mankind from China to Peru; Remark each anxious toil, each eager strife, And watch the busy scenes of crowded life. Samuel Johnson toil views travel The best part of every author is in general to be found in his book, I assure you. Samuel Johnson found book The man who is asked by an author what he thinks of his work is put to the torture and is not obliged to speak the truth. Samuel Johnson speak men thinking I remember a passage in Goldsmith's "Vicar of Wakefield," which he was afterwards fool enough to expunge: "I do not love a man who is zealous for nothing. Samuel Johnson zealous fool men In my early years I read very hard. It is a sad reflection, but a true one, that I knew almost as much at eighteen as I do now. Samuel Johnson reflection book years The arguments for purity of life fail of their due influence, not because they have been considered and confuted, but because they have been passed over without consideration. Samuel Johnson argument failing influence There is a certain race of men that either imagine it their duty, or make it their amusement, to hinder the reception of every work of learning or genius, who stand as sentinels in the avenues of fame, and value themselves upon giving Ignorance and Envy the first notice of a prey. Samuel Johnson ignorance race men Every man, however hopeless his pretensions may appear, has some project by which he hopes to rise to reputation; some art by which he imagines that the attention of the world will be attracted; some quality, good or bad, which discriminates him from the common herd of mortals, and by which others may be persuaded to love, or compelled to fear him. Samuel Johnson quality men art Shakespeare never had six lines together without a fault. Perhaps you may find seven, but this does not refute my general assertion. Samuel Johnson faults six together
