Samuel Johnson quotes

Samuel Johnson was an English writer, lexicographer, and literary critic, recognized as one of the most influential thinkers of the 18th century. His dictionary of the English language became a foundational work in English lexicography. He left a lasting legacy in literature, language, and moral essays. Here are 771 of his quotes:

Love is the wisdom of the fool and the folly of the wise. (Samuel Johnson)
Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it. View quote
Samuel Johnson
Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful. View quote
Samuel Johnson
What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure. View quote
Samuel Johnson
Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. View quote
Samuel Johnson
To keep your secret is wisdom; but to expect others to keep it is folly. View quote
Samuel Johnson
Language is the dress of thought. View quote
Samuel Johnson
The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. View quote
Samuel Johnson
Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings. View quote
Samuel Johnson
Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not. View quote
Samuel Johnson
Were it not for imagination, Sir, a man would be as happy in the arms of a chambermaid as of a Duchess. (Samuel Johnson)
We are inclined to believe those whom we do not know because they have never deceived us. View quote
Samuel Johnson
He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man. View quote
Samuel Johnson
Round numbers are always false. View quote
Samuel Johnson
Shame arises from the fear of men, conscience from the fear of God. View quote
Samuel Johnson
It is better to live rich than to die rich. View quote
Samuel Johnson
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. View quote
Samuel Johnson
The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken. View quote
Samuel Johnson
A man may be so much of everything that he is nothing of anything. View quote
Samuel Johnson
Classical quotation is the parole of literary men all over the world. View quote
Samuel Johnson
It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives. The act of dying is not of importance, it lasts so short a time. (Samuel Johnson)
Read over your compositions, and when you meet a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out. View quote
Samuel Johnson
Claret is the liquor for boys; port for men; but he who aspires to be a hero must drink brandy. View quote
Samuel Johnson
I never desire to converse with a man who has written more than he has read. View quote
Samuel Johnson
The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are. View quote
Samuel Johnson