Samuel Johnson Quotes About Constitution

• General irregularities are known in time to remedy themselves. By the constitution of ancient Egypt, the priesthood was continually increasing, till at length there was no people beside themselves; the establishment was then dissolved, and the number of priests was reduced and limited. Thus among us, writers will, perhaps, be multiplied, till no readers will be found, and then the ambition of writing must necessarily cease.

  Samuel Johnson

  Ambition, Writing, Egypt

  Samuel Johnson (1836). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.: D., with an Essay on His Life and Genius”, p.344

• Every government is perpetually degenerating towards corruption, from which it must be rescued at certain periods by the resuscitation of its first principles, and the re-establishment of its original constitution.

  Samuel Johnson

  Government, Principles, Firsts

  Samuel Johnson (1792). “The Rambler”, p.354

• Such is the constitution of man that labour may be styled its own reward; nor will any external incitements be requisite, if it be considered how much happiness is gained, and how much misery escaped, by frequent and violent agitation of the body.

  Samuel Johnson

  Men, Body, May

  Samuel Johnson, Elizabeth Carter, Samuel Richardson, Catherine Talbot (1825). “The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752”, p.146

• Avarice is a uniform and tractable vice; other intellectual distempers are different in different constitutions of mind. That which soothes the pride of one will offend the pride of another, but to the favor of the covetous bring money, and nothing is denied.

  Samuel Johnson

  Pride, Intellectual, Mind

  Samuel Johnson (1977). “Selected Poetry and Prose”, p.133, Univ of California Press

• Such is the constitution of Man that labor may be said to be its own re-ward.

  Samuel Johnson

  Exercise, Men, May

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