Samuel Johnson Quotes About Youth

• Every old man complains of the growing depravity of the world, of the petulance and insolence of the rising generation.

  Samuel Johnson

  Men, Age, Complaining

  Samuel Johnson (1820). “The Rambler”, p.266

• Youth enters the world with very happy prejudices in her own favor. She imagines herself not only certain of accomplishing every adventure, but of obtaining those rewards which the accomplishment may deserve. She is not easily persuaded to believe that the force of merit can be resisted by obstinacy and avarice, or its luster darkened by envy and malignity.

  Samuel Johnson

  Believe, Adventure, Accomplishment

  Samuel Johnson (1828). “The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752”, p.199

• Age looks with anger on the temerity of youth, and youth with contempt on the scrupulosity of age.

  Samuel Johnson

  Age, Looks, Youth

  Samuel Johnson (1999). “Rasselas”, p.14, Wordsworth Editions

• So different are the colors of life, as we look forward to the future, or backward to the past; and so different the opinions and sentiments which this contrariety of appearance naturally produces, that the conversation of the old and young ends generally with contempt or pity on either side.

  Samuel Johnson

  Time, Past, Color

  Samuel Johnson (1784). “The Rambler: In Four Volumes..”, p.88

• Ye who listen with credulity to the whispers of fancy, and pursue with eagerness the phantoms of hope; who expect that age will perform the promises of youth, and that the deficiencies of the present day will be supplied by the morrow, - attend to the history of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia.

  Samuel Johnson

  Historical, Listening, Promise

  'Rasselas' (1759) ch. 1

• In youth, it is common to measure right and wrong by the opinion of the world, and in age, to act without any measure but interest, and to lose shame without substituting virtue.

  Samuel Johnson

  Age, World, Opinion

  Samuel Johnson (1761). “The Rambler: In Four Volumes”, p.179

• I love the acquaintance of young people; because, in the first place, I do not like to think myself growing old. In the next place, young acquaintances must last longest, if they do last; and then, sir, young men have more virtue than old men; they have more generous sentiments in every respect.

  Samuel Johnson

  Men, Thinking, People

  In James Boswell 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' (1791) vol. 1, p. 445 (21 July 1763)

• It is not easy to surround life with any circumstances in which youth will not be delightful.

  Samuel Johnson

  Youth, Easy, Circumstances

  Samuel Johnson (1827). “The Rambler”, p.239

• But it is evident, that these bursts of universal distress are more dreaded than felt; thousands and ten thousands flourish in youth, and wither in age, without the knowledge of any other than domestic evils, and share the same pleasures and vexa­tions, whether their kings are mild or cruel, whether the armies of their country pursue their enemies or retreat before them.

  Samuel Johnson

  Country, Kings, Army

  Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1857). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With an Essay on His Life and Genius”, p.474

• Such is the common process of marriage. A youth and maiden exchange meeting by chance, or brought together by artifice, exchange glances, reciprocate civilities, go home, and dream of one another. Having little to divert attention, or diversify thought, they find themselves uneasy when they are apart, and therefore conclude that they shall be happy together. They marry, and discover what nothing but voluntary blindness had before concealed; they wear out life in altercations, and charge nature with cruelty.

  Samuel Johnson

  Marriage, Dream, Home

  Samuel Johnson, Peter Martin (2009). “Samuel Johnson: Selected Writings”, p.310, Harvard University Press

• Youth enters the world with very happy prejudices in her own favour.

  Samuel Johnson

  Prejudice, World, Favour

  Samuel Johnson (1761). “The Rambler: In Four Volumes”, p.119

• 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

You May Also Like:

James Boswell

Dick Clark

Alexander Pope

Joshua Reynolds

John Milton

Jonathan Swift

Oliver Goldsmith