Samuel Johnson Quotes About Loss

• Disappointment, when it involves neither shame nor loss, is as good as success; for it supplies as many images to the mind, and as many topics to the tongue.

  Samuel Johnson

  Success, Disappointment, Loss

  Samuel Johnson (1836). “Johnsoniana; or supplement to Boswell; being Anecdotes and sayings of Dr. Johnson, etc”, p.105

• But though it cannot be reasonable not to gain happiness for fear of losing it, yet it must be confessed, that in proportion to the pleasure of possession, will be for some time our sorrow for the loss.

  Samuel Johnson

  Loss, Sorrow, Gains

  Samuel Johnson, Peter Martin (2009). “Samuel Johnson: Selected Writings”, p.36, Harvard University Press

• The safe and general antidote against sorrow is employment. It is commonly observed, that among soldiers and seamen, though there is much kindness, there is little grief; they see their friend fall without any of that lamentation which is indulged in security and idleness, because they have no leisure to spare from the care of themselves; and whoever shall keep his thoughts equally busy will find himself equally unaffected with irretrievable losses.

  Samuel Johnson

  Kindness, Grief, Fall

  Samuel Johnson (1810). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With An Essay on His Life and Genius”, p.306

• Politeness is one of those advantages which we never estimate rightly but by the inconvenience of its loss.

  Samuel Johnson

  Loss, Advantage, Politeness

  Samuel Johnson (1761). “The Rambler: In Four Volumes”, p.239

• Prudence operates on life in the same manner as rule of composition; it produces vigilance rather than elevation; rather prevents loss than procures advantage; and often miscarriages, but seldom reaches either power or honor.

  Samuel Johnson

  Life, Success, Miscarriage

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