Samuel Johnson Quotes About Heaven

• I am not yet so lost in lexicography, as to forget that words are the daughters of the earth, and that things are the sons of heaven. Language is only the instrument of science, and words are but the signs of ideas: I wish, however, that the instrument might be less apt to decay, and that signs might be permanent, like the things which they denote.

  Samuel Johnson

  Daughter, Son, Science

  A Dictionary of the English Language preface (1755)

• A man who is good enough to go to heaven is good enough to be a clergyman.

  Samuel Johnson

  Men, Not Good Enough, Heaven

  "The Sayings of Doctor Johnson".

• I am not so lost in lexicography as to forget that words are the daughters of earth, and that things are the sons of heaven.

  Samuel Johnson

  Daughter, Art, Son

  A Dictionary of the English Language preface (1755)

• Sir, a man who cannot get to heaven in a green coat, will not find his way thither the sooner in a grey one.

  Samuel Johnson

  Fashion, Men, Heaven

  Samuel Johnson (1836). “Johnsoniana; or supplement to Boswell; being Anecdotes and sayings of Dr. Johnson, etc”, p.38

• Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.

  Samuel Johnson

  Daughter, Son, Ideas

• Leave to Heaven the measure and the choice.

  Samuel Johnson

  Choices, Heaven, Resignation

  'The Vanity of Human Wishes' (1749) l. 351 Page references to James Boswell The Life of Samuel Johnson are to L. F. Powell's revision of G. B. Hill's edition (1934-50; 1964)

• 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

• If a man is in doubt whether it would be better for him to expose himself to martyrdom or not, he should not do it. He must be convinced that he has a delegation from heaven.

  Samuel Johnson

  Men, Heaven, Doubt

  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.232

• 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”

• Friendship, peculiar boon of Heaven, The noble mind's delight and pride, To men and angels only given, To all the lower world denied.

  Samuel Johnson

  Angel, Pride, Men

  Samuel Johnson (1820). “The Poems of Dr. Samuel Johnson. To which is Prefixed, a Life of the Author”, p.41

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