Samuel Johnson Quotes About Grace

• 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

• Many causes may vitiate a writer's judgement of his own works. On that which has cost him much labour he sets a high value, because he is unwilling to think that he has been diligent in vain: what has been produced without toilsome efforts is considered with delight as a proof of vigorous faculties and fertile invention; and the last work, whatever it be, has necessarily most of the grace of novelty.

  Samuel Johnson

  Writing, Thinking, Effort

  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.136

• Whoever desires, for his writings or himself, what none can reasonably contemn, the favour of mankind, must add grace to strength, and make his thoughts agreeable as well as useful. Many complain of neglect who never tried to attract regard.

  Samuel Johnson

  Writing, Grace, Desire

  Samuel Johnson (1784). “The Rambler: In Four Volumes..”, p.49

• Unconstraint is the grace of conversation.

  Samuel Johnson

  Grace, Conversation

  Samuel Johnson (1848). “The Wisdom of the Rambler, Adventurer, and Idler”, p.419

• Fate wings, with every wish, the afflictive dart,
  Each gift of nature, and each grace of art.

  Samuel Johnson

  Art, Fate, Wings

  Samuel Johnson (1811). “The Poetical Works of Samuel Johnson: Collated with the Best Editions”, p.18

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