Samuel Johnson Quotes About Gold

• Between falsehood and useless truth there is little difference. As gold which he cannot spend will make no man rich, so knowledge which cannot apply will make no man wise.

  Samuel Johnson

  Wise, Wisdom, Knowledge

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

• It is observed of gold, by an old epigrammatist, that to have it is to be in fear, and to want it is to be in sorrow.

  Samuel Johnson

  Fear, Sorrow, Gold

  "The Rambler".

• Extended empires are like expanded gold, exchanging solid strength for feeble splendor.

  Samuel Johnson

  Focus, Gold, Empires

• Praise, like gold and diamonds, owes its value only to its scarcity.

  Samuel Johnson

  Inspirational, Education, Appreciation

  Samuel Johnson, Elizabeth Carter, Samuel Richardson, Catherine Talbot (1825). “The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752”, p.235

• The dangers gather as the treasures rise.

  Samuel Johnson

  Gold, Treasure, Danger

  Oliver Goldsmith, Tobias Smollett, Samuel Johnson, William Shenstone (1861). “Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith, Tobias Smollett, Samuel Johnson and William Shenstone”

• Praise, like gold and diamonds, owes its value only to its scarcity. It becomes cheap as it becomes vulgar, and will no longer raise expectation or animate enterprise.

  Samuel Johnson

  Expectations, Gold, Scarcity

  Samuel Johnson, Elizabeth Carter, Samuel Richardson, Catherine Talbot (1825). “The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752”, p.235

• 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

  Integrity, Temptation, Gold

  Samuel Johnson, William Page (1860). “Life and Writings”, p.120

• To purchase Heaven has gold the power?
  Can gold remove the mortal hour?
  In life can love be bought with gold?
  Are friendship's pleasures to be sold?
  No--all that's worth a wish--a thought,
  Fair virtue gives unbribed, unbought.
  Cease then on trash thy hopes to bind,
  Let nobler views engage thy mind.

  Samuel Johnson

  Love Is, Views, Giving

  Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1837). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: With an Essay on His Life and Genius /c by Arthur Murphy, Esq”, p.554

• The lust of gold succeeds the rage of conquest; The lust of gold, unfeeling and remorseless! The last corruption of degenerate man.

  Samuel Johnson

  Men, Lust, Gold

  Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1825). “The works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: with Murphy's essay”, p.328

• For gold the hireling judge distorts the laws.

  Samuel Johnson

  Law, Judging, Gold

  Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1837). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: With an Essay on His Life and Genius /c by Arthur Murphy, Esq”, p.548

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