18 quotes
He who has provoked the lash of wit, cannot complain that he smarts from it.
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D (1791)
I fancy mankind may come, in time, to write all aphoristically.
The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson, LL.D (1785)
The best good man, with the worst natur'd muse.
The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson, LL.D (1785)
Such groundless fears will arise in the mind, before it has resumed its vigour after sleep!
The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson, LL.D (1785)
In every place, where there is any thing worthy of observation, there should be a short printed directory for strangers.
The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson, LL.D (1785)
Johnson is dead. Let us go to the next best — there is nobody; no man can be said to put you in mind of Johnson.
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D (1791)
As all who come into the country must obey the King, so all who come into an university must be of the Church.
The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson, LL.D (1785)
Influence must ever be in proportion to property; and it is right it should.
The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson, LL.D (1785)
Then, all censure of a man's self is oblique praise.
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D (1791)
We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over.
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D (1791)
Boswell is pleasant and gay,
For frolic by nature designed;
He heedlessly rattles away
When company is to his mind.
What can he mean by coming among us? He is not only dull himself, but the cause of dullness in others.
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D (1791)
You are a philosopher, Dr. Johnson. I have tried too in my time to be a philosopher; but, I don't know how, cheerfulness was always breaking in.
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D (1791)
My lord and Dr Johnson disputed a little, whether the savage or the London shopkeeper had the best existence; his lordship, as usual, preferring the savage.
The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson, LL.D (1785)
I regretted I was not the head of a clan; however, though not possessed of such an hereditary advantage, I would always endeavour to make my tenants follow me.
The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson, LL.D (1785)
'Sir,' said Mr Johnson, 'a lawyer has no business with the justice or injustice of the cause which he undertakes, unless his client asks his opinion, and then he is bound to give it honestly. The justice or injustice of the cause is to be decided by the judge.'
The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson, LL.D (1785)
When I called upon Dr. Johnson next morning, I found him highly satisfied with his colloquial prowess the preceding evening. "Well, (said he,) we had good talk." BOSWELL: "Yes, Sir, you tossed and gored several persons."
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D (1791)
I jumped up on the benches, roared out, "Damn you, you rascals!", hissed and was in the greatest rage. [...] I hated the English; I wished from my soul that the Union was broke and that we might give them another battle of Bannockburn.