Samuel Johnson Quotes About Purpose

• Some read for style, and some for argument: one has little care about the sentiment, he observes only how it is expressed; another regards not the conclusion, but is diligent to mark how it is inferred; they read for other purposes than the attainment of practical knowledge; and are no more likely to grow wise by an examination of a treatise of moral prudence, than an architect to inflame his devotion by considering attentively the proportions of a temple.

  Samuel Johnson

  Wise, Reading, Style

  Samuel Johnson (1810). “The works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With An essay on his life and genius”, p.292

• As peace is the end of war, so to be idle is the ultimate purpose of the busy.

  Samuel Johnson

  Peace, War, Purpose

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

• There is no temper more unpropitious to interest than desultory application and unlimited inquiry, by which the desires are held in a perpetual equipoise, and the mind fluctuates between different purposes without determination.

  Samuel Johnson

  Determination, Focus, Mind

  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.205

• A writer who obtains his full purpose loses himself in his own lustre.

  Samuel Johnson

  Writing, Purpose, Loses

  Samuel Johnson (1851). “The beauties of Johnson: choice selections from his works”, p.6

• Words too familiar, or too remote, defeat the purpose of a poet. From those sounds which we hear on small or on coarse occasions, we do not easily receive strong impressions, or delightful images; and words to which we are nearly strangers, whenever they occur, draw that attention on themselves which they should transmit to other things.

  Samuel Johnson

  Strong, Writing, Attention

  Samuel Johnson (1825). “The Lives of the English Poets”, p.115

• The purpose of a writer is to be read, and the criticism which would destroy the power of pleasing must be blown aside

  Samuel Johnson

  Reading, Writing, Criticism

  Samuel Johnson (1804). “The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland: And a Criticism on Their Works”, p.569

• These papers of the day have uses more adequate to the purposes of common life than more pompous and durable volumes.

  Samuel Johnson

  Purpose, Use, Paper

  Samuel Johnson (1761). “The Rambler: In Four Volumes”, p.215

• He that compares what he has done with what he has left undone, will feel the effect which must always follow the comparison of imagination with reality; he will look with contempt on his own unimportance, and wonder to what purpose he came into the world; he will repine that he shall leave behind him no evidence of his having been, that he has added nothing to the system of life, but has glided from youth to age among the crowd, without any effort for distinction.

  Samuel Johnson

  Reality, Imagination, Effort

  Samuel Johnson (1810). “Works”, p.355

• There is such a difference between the pursuits of men in great cities that one part of the inhabitants lives to little other purpose than to wonder at the rest. Some have hopes and fears, wishes and aversions, which never enter into the thoughts of others, and inquiry is laboriously exerted to gain that which those who possess it are ready to throw away.

  Samuel Johnson

  Men, Cities, Differences

  Samuel Johnson (1836). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.: D., with an Essay on His Life and Genius”, p.410

• Life, to be worthy of a rational being, must be always in progression; we must always purpose to do more or better than in time past.

  Samuel Johnson

  Past, Purpose, Progression

  Samuel Johnson (1788). “Letters to and from the Late Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: To which are Added Some Poems Never Before Printed”, p.334

• In proportion as our cares are employed upon the future, they are abstracted from the present, from the only time which we can call our own, and of which, if we neglect the apparent duties to make provision against visionary attacks, we shall certainly counteract our own purpose.

  Samuel Johnson

  Purpose, Visionaries, Care

  Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1825). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With Murphy's Essay”, p.142

• Words too familiar, or too remote, defeat the purpose of a poet.

  Samuel Johnson

  Purpose, Defeat, Poet

  Samuel Johnson (1825). “The Lives of the English Poets”, p.115

• Life is surely given us for higher purposes than to gather what our ancestors have wisely thrown away, and to learn what is of no value but because it has been forgotten.

  Samuel Johnson

  Purpose, Life Is, Forgotten

  Samuel Johnson (1977). “Selected Poetry and Prose”, p.201, Univ of California Press

You May Also Like:

James Boswell

Dick Clark

Alexander Pope

Joshua Reynolds

John Milton

Jonathan Swift

Oliver Goldsmith