Samuel Johnson Quotes About Theatre

• The truth is that the spectators are always in their senses, and know, from the first act to the last, that the stage is only a stage, and that the players are only players.

  Samuel Johnson

  Player, Theatre, Lasts

  William Shakespeare, George Steevens, Samuel Johnson, Alexander Pope, Mr Theobald (Lewis) (1805). “Dedication of the players. Preface of the players. Pope's preface. Theobald's preface. Hanmer's preface. Warburton's preface. Johnson's preface. Advertisement by Steevens. Capell's”, p.112

• The drama's laws the drama's patrons give.
  For we that live to please must please to live.

  Samuel Johnson

  Life, Drama, Law

  'Prologue spoken at the Opening of the Theatre in Drury Lane' (1747)

• The appearance and retirement of actors are the great events of the theatrical world; and their first performances fill the pit with conjecture and prognostication, as the first actions of a new monarch agitate nations with hope and fear.

  Samuel Johnson

  Retirement, Theatre, Firsts

  Samuel Johnson (1825). “The works of Samuel Johnson [ed. by F.P. Walesby].”, p.222

You May Also Like:

James Boswell

Dick Clark

Alexander Pope

Joshua Reynolds

John Milton

Jonathan Swift

Oliver Goldsmith