Samuel Johnson Quotes About Flowers

• Of the blessings set before you make your choice, and be content. No man can taste the fruits of autumn while he is delighting his scent with the flowers of the spring: no man can, at the same time, fill his cup from the source and from the mouth of the Nile.

  Samuel Johnson

  Spring, Flower, Autumn

  Samuel Johnson (1977). “Selected Poetry and Prose”, p.119, Univ of California Press

• No man can taste the fruits of autumn while he is delighting his scent with the flowers of spring.

  Samuel Johnson

  Appreciation, Spring, Flower

  Samuel Johnson (1977). “Selected Poetry and Prose”, p.119, Univ of California Press

• Catch, then, oh! catch the transient hour,
  Improve each moment as it flies;
  Life's a short summer-man a flower;
  He dies-alas! how soon he dies!

  Samuel Johnson

  Life, Summer, Time

  Samuel Johnson, Francis William Blagdon (1811). “The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia”, p.184

• The task of an author is, either to teach what is not known, or to recommend known truths by his manner of adorning them; either to let new light in upon the mind, and open new scenes to the prospect, or to vary the dress and situation of common objects, so as to give them fresh grace and more powerful attractions, to spread such flowers over the regions through which the intellect has already made its progress, as may tempt it to return, and take a second view of things hastily passed over, or negligently regarded.

  Samuel Johnson

  Powerful, Flower, Writing

  Samuel Johnson (1787). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: Together with His Life, and Notes on His Lives of the Poets, by Sir John Hawkins, Knt. In Eleven Volumes ...”, p.14

• When a poet mentions the spring, we know that the zephyrs are about to whisper, that the groves are to recover their verdure, the linnets to warble forth their notes of love, and the flocks and herds to frisk over vales painted with flowers: yet, who is there so insensible of the beauties of nature, so little delighted with the renovation of the world, as not to feel his heart bound at the mention of the spring?

  Samuel Johnson

  Spring, Flower, Heart

  Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1825). “The works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: with Murphy's essay”, p.97

• To mean understandings, it is sufficient honour to be numbered amongst the lowest labourers of learning; but different abilities must find different tasks. To hew stone, would have been unworthy of Palladio; and to have rambled in search of shells and flowers, had but ill suited with the capacity of Newton.

  Samuel Johnson

  Flower, Mean, Science

  Samuel Johnson (1823). “The Works of Samuel Johnson: LL.D. A New Edition in Twelve Volumes. With an Essay on His Life and Genius, by Arthur Murphy, Esq”, p.76

• The work of a correct and regular writer is a garden accurately formed and diligently planted, varied with shades, and scented with flowers.

  Samuel Johnson

  Flower, Garden, Shade

  William Shakespeare, Isaac Reed, Samuel Johnson (1822). “The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare: From the Correct Edition of Isaac Reed ... with Copious Annotations”, p.53

• The imitator treads a beaten walk, and with all his diligence can only find a few flowers or branches untouched by his predecessor, the refuse of contempt, or the omissions of negligence.

  Samuel Johnson

  Flower, Omission, Branches

  Samuel Johnson (1784). “The Rambler: In Four Volumes..”, p.182

• In the condition of men, it frequently happens that grief and anxiety lie hid under the golden robes of prosperity; and the gloom of calamity is cheered by secret radiations of hope and comfort; as in the works of nature, the bog is sometimes covered with flowers, and the mine concealed in the barren crags.

  Samuel Johnson

  Lying, Flower, Grief

  Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1825). “The works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: with Murphy's essay”, p.33

• Terrestrial happiness is of short duration. The brightness of the flame is wasting its fuel; the fragrant flower is passing away in its own odors.

  Samuel Johnson

  Happiness, Flower, Flames

  Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1857). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With an Essay on His Life and Genius”, p.452

• Pleasure is very seldom found where it is sought. Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks. The flowers which scatter their odours from time to time in the paths of life, grow up without culture from seeds scattered by chance.

  Samuel Johnson

  Growing Up, Flower, Culture

  Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy, Francis Pearson Walesby (1825). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D..: The Adventurer and Idler”, p.321

• Piety practiced in solitude, like the flower that blooms in the desert, may give its fragrance to the winds of heaven, and delight those unbodied spirits that survey the works of God and the actions of men; but it bestows no assistance upon earthly beings, and however free from taints of impurity, yet wants the sacred splendor of beneficence.

  Samuel Johnson

  Flower, Men, Wind

  Samuel Johnson (1912). “The works of Samuel Johnson”

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