Samuel Johnson Quotes About Perfection

• Nothing has so exposed men of learning to contempt and ridicule as their ignorance of things which are known to all but themselves. Those who have been taught to consider the institutions of the schools as giving the last perfection to human abilities are surprised to see men wrinkled with study, yet wanting to be instructed in the minute circumstances of propriety, or the necessary form of daily transaction; and quickly shake off their reverence for modes of education which they find to produce no ability above the rest of mankind.

  Samuel Johnson

  School, Ignorance, Men

  Samuel Johnson (1810). “Works”, p.420

• The desire of advising has a very extensive prevalence; and, since advice cannot be given but to those that will hear it, a patient listener is necessary to the accommodation of all those who desire to be confirmed in the opinion of their own wisdom: a patient listener, however, is not always to be had; the present age, whatever age is present, is so vitiated and disordered, that young people are readier to talk than to attend, and good counsel is only thrown away upon those who are full of their own perfections.

  Samuel Johnson

  People, Perfection, Advice

  Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1811). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, L. L. D.: In Twelve Volumes”, p.174

• Consultation and compliance can conduce little to the perfection of any literary performance; for whoever is so doubtful of his own abilities as to encourage the remarks of others, will find himself every day embarrassed with new difficulties, and will harass his mind, in vain, with the hopeless labour of uniting heterogeneous ideas, digesting independent hints, and collecting into one point the several rays of borrowed light, emitted often with contrary directions.

  Samuel Johnson

  Writing, Independent, Light

  Samuel Johnson (2009). “Samuel Johnson: Selected Writings”, p.183, Harvard University Press

• It is the condition of our present state to see more than we can attain; the exactest vigilance and caution can never maintain a single day of unmingled innocence.

  Samuel Johnson

  Writing, Ideas, Perfection

  "The life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D". Book by John Hawkins, 1787.

• It is however, reasonable, to have perfection in our eye; that we may always advance towards it, though we know it never can be reached.

  Samuel Johnson

  Eye, Perfection, May

  "The Works of Samuel Johnson, L. L. D.: In Twelve Volumes". Volume III,

• If we require more perfection from women than from ourselves, it is doing them honor.

  Samuel Johnson

  Women, Perfection, Honor

• The trade of advertising is now so near to perfection that it is not easy to propose any improvement. But as every art ought to be exercized in due subordination to the public good, I cannot but propose it as a moral question to these masters of the public ear, whether they do not sometimes play too wantonly with our passions.

  Samuel Johnson

  Art, Passion, Play

  Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1836). “The works of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: with an essay on his life and genius”, p.395

• Christianity is the highest perfection of humanity.

  Samuel Johnson

  Perfection, Humanity, Religion

  Samuel Johnson (2014). “The Letters of Samuel Johnson, Volume I: 1731-1772”, p.269, Princeton University Press

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