The end of writing is to instruct; the end of poetry is to instruct by pleasing. Samuel Johnson More Quotes by Samuel Johnson More Quotes From Samuel Johnson Health is certainly more valuable than money, because it is by health that money is procured. Samuel Johnson valuablehealthycaring I never desire to converse with a man who has written more than he has read. Samuel Johnson politicalreadingmen When men come to like a sea-life, they are not fit to live on land. Samuel Johnson landseamen The fortitude which has encountered no dangers, that prudence which has surmounted no difficulties, that integrity which has been attacked by no temptation, can at best be considered but as gold not yet brought to the test, of which therefore the true value cannot be assigned. Samuel Johnson goldtemptationintegrity Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings. Samuel Johnson confidencemotivationallife Men know that women are an overmatch for them, and therefore they choose the weakest or the most ignorant. If they did not think so, they never could be afraid of women knowing as much as themselves. Samuel Johnson womenfearthinking Wine gives great pleasure; and every pleasure is of itself a good. It is a good, unless counterbalanced by evil. Samuel Johnson wineevilgiving He that fails in his endeavors after wealth or power will not long retain either honesty or courage. Samuel Johnson honestycouragework All the arguments which are brought to represent poverty as no evil show it evidently to be a great evil. Samuel Johnson argumentpovertyevil Without frugality none can be rich, and with it very few would be poor. Samuel Johnson rich-poorfrugalwould-be Dictionaries are like watches, the worst is better than none and the best cannot be expected to go quite true. Samuel Johnson philosophyhistoryart Marriage has many pains, but celibacy has no pleasures. Samuel Johnson weddingmarriagepain No cause more frequently produces bashfulness than too high an opinion of our own importance. He that imagines an assembly filled with his merit, panting with expectation, and hushed with attention, easily terrifies himself with the dread of disappointing them, and strains his imagination in pursuit of something that may vindicate the veracity of fame, and show that his reputation was not gained by chance. Samuel Johnson arroganceimaginationexpectations Resentment is a union of sorrow with malignity; a combination of a passion which all endeavor to avoid with a passion which all concur to detest. Samuel Johnson unionspassionsorrow Remember that nothing will supply the want of prudence, and that negligence and irregularity long continued will make knowledge useless, wit ridiculous, and genius contemptible. Samuel Johnson uselessgeniuslong Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those who we cannot resemble. Samuel Johnson lexicographercriminal-mindbeing-yourself He that will enjoy the brightness of sunshine, must quit the coolness of the shade. Samuel Johnson brightnesssunshineshade Every man has a right to utter what he thinks truth, and every other man has a right to knock him down for it. Martyrdom is the test. Samuel Johnson freedom-of-speechmenthinking All intellectual improvement arises from leisure. Samuel Johnson statisticsintellectualwork Most minds are the slaves of external circumstances, and conform to any hand that undertakes to mould them. Samuel Johnson influencemindhands
