Samuel Johnson Quotes

Friendship, like love, is destroyed by long absence, though it may be increased by short intermissions.

If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.

It is a most mortifying reflection for a man to consider what he has done, compared to what he might have done.

The world is like a grand staircase, some are going up and some are going down.

Nature has given women so much power that the law has very wisely given them little.

He that overvalues himself will undervalue others, and he that undervalues others will oppress them.

There are minds so impatient of inferiority that their gratitude is a species of revenge, and they return benefits, not because recompense is a pleasure, but because obligation is a pain.

Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.

I would be loath to speak ill of any person who I do not know deserves it, but I am afraid he is an attorney.

The vanity of being known to be trusted with a secret is generally one of the chief motives to disclose it.

If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man, sir, should keep his friendship in a constant repair.

Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not.

Classical quotation is the parole of literary men all over the world.

Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.

A man is in general better pleased when he has a good dinner upon his table, than when his wife talks Greek.

Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice. Injuries are revenged; crimes are avenged.

At seventy-seven it is time to be in earnest.