Samuel Johnson Quotes About Duty

• Fear is implanted in us as a preservative from evil but its duty, like that of other passions, is not to overbear reason, but to assist it. It should not be suffered to tyrannize in the imagination, to raise phantoms of horror, or to beset life with supernumerary distresses.

  Samuel Johnson

  Passion, Evil, Imagination

  Samuel Johnson (1761). “The Rambler: In Four Volumes”, p.113

• To preserve health is a moral and religious duty: for health is the basis of all social virtues; and we can be useful no longer than while we are well.

  Samuel Johnson

  Religious, Health, Exercise

  "The Letters of Samuel Johnson, Volume I: 1731-1772".

• The duty of criticism is neither to depreciate nor dignify by partial representations, but to hold out the light of reason, whatever it may discover; and to promulgate the determinations of truth, whatever she shall dictate

  Samuel Johnson

  Determination, Light, Criticism

  Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1836). “The works of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: with an essay on his life and genius”, p.149

• Health is so necessary to all the duties, as well as pleasures of life, that the crime of squandering it is equal to the folly.

  Samuel Johnson

  Health, Crime, Pleasure

  Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1840). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: With an Essay on His Life and Genius /c by Arthur Murphy, Esq”, p.84

• Idleness is often covered by turbulence and hurry. He that neglects his known duty and real employment naturally endeavours to crowd his mind with something that may bar out the remembrance of his own folly, and does any thing but what he ought to do with eager diligence, that he may keep himself in his own favour.

  Samuel Johnson

  Happiness, Real, Remembrance

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

• That distrust which intrudes so often on your mind is a mode of melancholy, which, if it be the business of a wise man to be happy, it is foolish to indulge; and if it be a duty to preserve our faculties entire for their proper use, it is criminal. Suspicion is very often an useless pain.

  Samuel Johnson

  Wise, Pain, Men

  James Boswell, Samuel Johnson, Edmond Malone (1824). “The life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D., comprehending an account of his studies, and numerous works, in chronological order: a series of his epistolary correspondence and conversations with many eminent persons; and various original pieces of his composition, never before published; the whole exhibiting a view of literature and literary men in Great Britain, for near half a century during which he flourished”, p.132

• It is the condition of our present state to see more than we can attain; the exactest vigilance and caution can never maintain a single day of unmingled innocence.

  Samuel Johnson

  Writing, Ideas, Perfection

  "The life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D". Book by John Hawkins, 1787.

• To hear complaints with patience, even when complaints are vain, is one of the duties of friendship.

  Samuel Johnson

  Patience, Be Patient, Vain

  Samuel Johnson (1761). “The Rambler: In Four Volumes”, p.32

• Every one should consider himself as intrusted not only with his own conduct, but with that of others; and as accountable, not only for the duties which he neglects, or the crimes that he commits, but for that negligence and irregularity which he may encourage or inculcate. Every man, in whatever station, has, or endeavours to have his followers, admirers, and imitators, and has therefore the influence of his example to watch with care.

  Samuel Johnson

  Men, Example, Watches

  Samuel Johnson (2003). “Selected Essays”, p.237, Penguin UK

• The wretched have no compassion, they can do good only from strong principles of duty.

  Samuel Johnson

  Strong, Compassion, Principles

  Samuel Johnson (1836). “Johnsoniana; or supplement to Boswell; being Anecdotes and sayings of Dr. Johnson, etc”, p.108

• He that is warm for truth, and fearless in its defense, performs one of the duties of a good man; he strenghtens his own conviction, and guards others from delusion; but steadiness of belief, and boldness of profession, are yet only part of the form of godliness.

  Samuel Johnson

  Men, Fearless, Good Man

  Samuel Johnson (1812). “Sermons Attributed to Samuel Johnson: And Left for Publication by John Taylor”, p.209

• If I had no duties, and no reference to futurity, I would spend my life in driving briskly in a post-chaise with a pretty woman.

  Samuel Johnson

  Pretty Woman, Risk, Driving

  In James Boswell 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' (1791) vol. 3, p. 162 (19 September 1777)

• The duties of religion, sincerely and regularly performed, will always be sufficient to exalt the meanest and to exercise the highest understanding.

  Samuel Johnson

  Exercise, Understanding, Religion

  Samuel Johnson (1761). “The Rambler: In Four Volumes”, p.105

• In proportion as our cares are employed upon the future, they are abstracted from the present, from the only time which we can call our own, and of which, if we neglect the apparent duties to make provision against visionary attacks, we shall certainly counteract our own purpose.

  Samuel Johnson

  Purpose, Visionaries, Care

  Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1825). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With Murphy's Essay”, p.142

• When a friend is carried to his grave, we at once find excuses for every weakness, and palliation of every fault. We recollect a thousand endearments, which before glided off our minds without impression, a thousand favors unrepaid, a thousand duties unperformed; and wish, vainly wish, for his return, not so much that we may receive as that we may bestow happiness, and recompense that kindness which before we never understood.

  Samuel Johnson

  Death, Kindness, Mind

  Samuel Johnson (1848). “The Wisdom of the Rambler, Adventurer, and Idler”, p.45

• 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, Men, Race

  Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1857). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With an Essay on His Life and Genius”, p.16

• Life consists not of a series of illustrious actions or elegant enjoyments. The greater part of our time passes in compliance with necessities, in the performance of daily duties, in the removal of small inconveniences, in the procurement of petty pleasures; and we are well or ill at ease, as the main stream of life glides on smoothly, or is ruffled by small obstacles and frequent interruption.

  Samuel Johnson

  Life, Ease, Action

  Samuel Johnson, Hester Lynch Piozzi, James Boswell (1804). “The beauties of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: consisting of maxims and observations, moral, critical, and miscellaneous: to which are now added biographical anecdotes of the doctor, selected from the works of Mrs. Piozzi;--his Life, recently published by Mr. Boswell, and other authentic testimonies; also his will, and the sermon he wrote for the late Doctor Dodd”

• We all live upon the hope of pleasing somebody, and the pleasure of pleasing ought to be greatest, and at last always will be greatest, when our endeavours are exerted in consequence of our duty.

  Samuel Johnson

  Pleasure, Endeavor, Duty

  "The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: Including a Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides".

• It is our first duty to serve society, and after we have done that, we may attend wholly to the salvation of our own souls.

  Samuel Johnson

  Soul, Done, May

  In James Boswell 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' (1791) vol. 2, p. 10 (February 1766)

• It is our first duty to serve society.

  Samuel Johnson

  Society, Firsts, Duty

  In James Boswell 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' (1791) vol. 2, p. 10 (February 1766)

• As he that lives longest lives but a little while, every man may be certain that he has no time to waste. The duties of life are commensurate to its duration; and every day brings its task, which, if neglected, is doubled on the morrow.

  Samuel Johnson

  Men, Tasks, May

  Samuel Johnson, Elizabeth Carter, Samuel Richardson, Catherine Talbot (1825). “The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752”, p.124

• Hoc age ['do this'] is the great rule, whether you are serious or merry; whether ... learning science or duty from a folio, or floating on the Thames. Intentions must be gathered from acts.

  Samuel Johnson

  Science, Age, Serious

• Of him that hopes to be forgiven it is indispensably required that he forgive. It is, therefore, superfluous to urge any other motive. On this great duty eternity is suspended, and to him that refuses to practise it, the throne of mercy is inaccessible, and the Saviour of the world has been born in vain.

  Samuel Johnson

  Forgiveness, Forgiving, Thrones

  Samuel Johnson (1836). “Johnsoniana; or supplement to Boswell; being Anecdotes and sayings of Dr. Johnson, etc”, p.385

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