Samuel Johnson Quotes - Page 50

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When a language begins to teem with books, it is tending to refinement; as those who undertake to teach others must have undergone some labour in improving themselves, they set a proportionate value on their own thoughts, and wish to enforce them by efficacious expressions; speech becomes embodied and permanent; different modes and phrases are compared, and the best obtains an establishment. By degrees one age improves upon another.

Samuel Johnson

Book, Expression, Wish

Samuel Johnson (1810). “The works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With An essay on his life and genius”, p.349

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Exactness is first obtained, and afterwards elegance. But diction, merely vocal, is always in its childhood. As no man leaves his eloquence behind him, the new generations have all to learn. There may possibly be books without a polished language, but there can be no polished language without books.

Samuel Johnson

Book, Men, Childhood

Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1857). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With an Essay on His Life and Genius”, p.653

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To live without feeling or exciting sympathy, to be fortunate without adding to the felicity of others, or afflicted without tasting the balm of pity, is a state more gloomy than solitude; it is not retreat, but exclusion from mankind. Marriage has many pains, but celibacy has no pleasures.

Samuel Johnson

Pain, Solitude, Feelings

Rasselas ch. 26 (1759)

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No one will persist long in helping someone who will not help themselves.

Samuel Johnson

Helping Someone, Long, Aids

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Let us take a patriot, where we can meet him; and, that we may not flatter ourselves by false appearances, distinguish those marks which are certain, from those which may deceive; for a man may have the external appearance of a patriot, without the constituent qualities; as false coins have often lustre, though they want weight.

Samuel Johnson

Men, Quality, Coins

Samuel Johnson (1810). “The works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With An essay on his life and genius”, p.143

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Some claim a place in the list of patriots, by an acrimonious and unremitting opposition to the court. This mark is by no means infallible. Patriotism is not necessarily included in rebellion. A man may hate his king, yet not love his country.

Samuel Johnson

Country, Kings, Hate

Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1838). “Works”, p.423

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It is the quality of patriotism to be jealous and watchful, to observe all secret machinations, and to see publick dangers at a distance. The true lover of his country is ready to communicate his fears, and to sound the alarm, whenever he perceives the approach of mischief. But he sounds no alarm, when there is no enemy; he never terrifies his countrymen till he is terrified himself. The patriotism, therefore, may be justly doubted of him, who professes to be disturbed by incredibilities.

Samuel Johnson

Country, Distance, Jealous

Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1811). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, L. L. D.: In Twelve Volumes”, p.135

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In a time of war the nation is always of one mind, eager to hear something good of themselves and ill of the enemy. At this time the task of the news-writer is easy; they have nothing to do but to tell that a battle is expected, and afterwards that a battle has been fought, in which we and our friends, whether conquering or conquered, did all, and our enemies did nothing.

Samuel Johnson

War, Mind, Enemy

Samuel Johnson (1968). “Essays from the Rambler, Adventurer, and Idler”, p.289, Yale University Press

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A country is in a bad state, which is governed only by laws; because a thousand things occur for which laws cannot provide, and where authority ought to interpose.

Samuel Johnson

Country, Law, Prison

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1786). “Boswell's Life of Johnson: Including Boswell's Journal of a Tour of the Hebrides, and Johnson's Diary of A Journey Into North Wales”, p.202

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Let him go abroad to a distant country; let him go to some place where he is not known. Don't let him go to the devil, where he is known.

Samuel Johnson

Country, Evil, Let Him Go

In James Boswell 'Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides' (1785) 18 August 1773 (Boswell having asked if someone should commit suicide to avoid certain disgrace)

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Men become friends by a community of pleasures.

Samuel Johnson

Men, Community, Pleasure

Samuel Johnson (1797). “The Beauties of Samuel Johnson, Etc. (A New Edition, Being the Ninth.).”, p.98

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You may abuse a tragedy, though you cannot write one. You may scold a carpenter who has made you a bad table, though you cannot make a table. It is not your trade to make tables.

Samuel Johnson

Writing, Abuse, Criticism

On literary criticism, in James Boswell 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' (1791) vol. 1, p. 409 (25 June 1763)

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It may be laid down as a position which seldom deceives, that when a man cannot bear his own company, there is something wrong.

Samuel Johnson

Men, Solitude, May

Samuel Johnson (1784). “The Rambler: In Four Volumes..”, p.27

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For life affords no higher pleasure, than that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one step of success to another, forming new wishes and seeing them gratified. He that labours in any great or laudable undertaking, has his fatigues first supported by hope, and afterwards rewarded by joy... To strive with difficulties, and to conquer them, is the highest human felicity.

Samuel Johnson

Motivational, Joy, Wish

"The Wisdom of the Rambler, Adventurer, and Idler".

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The world is not yet exhausted: let me see something tomorrow which I never saw before.

Samuel Johnson

World, Saws, Anticipation

Samuel Johnson (1977). “Selected Poetry and Prose”, p.148, Univ of California Press

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Sir, I think all Christians, whether Papists or Protestants, agree in the essential articles, and that their differences are trivial, and rather political than religious.

Samuel Johnson

Christian, Religious, Thinking

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1799). “Life of Johnson: Including Boswell's Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides and Johnson's Diary of a Journey Into North Wales”, p.469

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Studious to please, yet not ashamed to fail.

Samuel Johnson

Failure, Failing, Ashamed

'Irene' (1749) prologue

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Exercise cannot secure us from that dissolution to which we are decreed; but while the soul and body continue united, it can make the association pleasing, and give probable hopes that they shall be disciplined by an easy separation...to die is the fate of man; but to die with lingering anguish is generally his folly.

Samuel Johnson

Fate, Exercise, Men

The Rambler, No 85, January 8, 1751.

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To talk in public, to think in solitude, to read and to hear, to inquire and answer inquiries, is the business of the scholar

Samuel Johnson

Thinking, Solitude, Inquiry

Samuel Johnson (1977). “Selected Poetry and Prose”, p.85, Univ of California Press

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No wise man will go to live in the country, unless he has something to do which can be better done in the country. For instance, if he is to shut himself up for a year to study science, it is better to look out to the fields, than to an opposite wall. Then, if a man walks out in the country, there is nobody to keep him from walking in again: but if a man walks out in London, he is not sure when he will walk in again. A great city is, to be sure, the school for studying life.

Samuel Johnson

Wise, Country, Wall

Samuel Johnson, James Boswell (1825). “The Table Talk of Dr. Johnson: Comprising Opinions and Anecdotes of Life and Literature, Men, Manners, and Morals”, p.132

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They who have already enjoyed the crowds and noise of the great city, know their desire to return is little more than the restlessness of a vacant mind, that they are not so much led by hope as driven by disgust, and wish rather to leave the country than to see the town.

Samuel Johnson

Country, Cities, Mind

Samuel Johnson (1825). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.”, p.387

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Moderation is commonly firm, and firmness is commonly successful.

Samuel Johnson

Successful, Moderation, Firmness

Samuel Johnson (1804). “The beauties of Samuel Johnson: maxims and observations. To which are now added, biographical anecdotes of the doctor, his life [&c.].”, p.284

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Patience and submission are very carefully to be distinguished from cowardice and indolence. We are not to repine, but we may lawfully struggle; for the calamities of life, like the necessities of Nature, are calls to labor and diligence.

Samuel Johnson

Patience, Struggle, May

Samuel Johnson (1811). “Works”, p.184

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The process is the reality.

Samuel Johnson

Reality, Process

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We are not here to sell a parcel of boilers and vats, but the potentiality of growing rich beyond the dreams of avarice.

Samuel Johnson

Dream, Marketing, Vat

Quoted in James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) (entry for 6 Apr. 1781)

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Born: September 18, 1709
Died: December 13, 1784
Occupation: Writer
Cite this Page: Citation

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