414 quotes
The endearing elegance of female friendship.
The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia (1759)
Fears of the brave and follies of the wise.
And, bid him go to hell, to hell he goes.
Sir Joshua having also observed, that the real character of a man was found out by his amusements, Johnson added, “Yes, Sir; no man is a hypocrite in his pleasures.”
He that would pass the latter part of life with honour and decency, must, when he is young, consider that he shall one day be old; and remember, when he is old, that he has once been young.
The Rambler (1750)
A lady once asked him how he came to define 'pastern', the knee of a horse: instead of making an elaborate defence, as might be expected, he at once answered, "Ignorance, Madam, pure ignorance."
Life of Samuel Johnson (1791)
The lust of gold succeeds the rage of conquest;
The lust of gold, unfeeling and remorseless!
The last corruption of degenerate man.
Irene (1749)
Here Beauty falls betray’d, despis’d, distress’d,
And hissing Infamy proclaims the rest.
The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749)
Human life is everywhere a state in which much is to be endured and little to be enjoyed.
The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia (1759)
Peace courts his hand, but spreads her charms in vain;
"Think nothing gain'd," he cries, "till naught remain."
An age that melts in unperceiv'd decay,
And glides in modest innocence away.
The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749)
Here closed in death th' attentive eyes
That saw the manners in the face.
Epitaph on Hogarth (1786)
If the man who turnips cries,
Cry not when his father dies,
'Tis a proof that he had rather
Have a turnip than his father.
Anecdotes of Samuel Johnson (1786)
Superfluous lags the veteran on the stage,
Till pitying Nature signs the last release,
And bids afflicted worth retire to peace.
Sir, what is Poetry? Why, Sir, it is much easier to say what it is not. We all know what light is: but it is not easy to tell what it is.
His [[w:David Garrick|[David Garrick]]'s] death has eclipsed the gaiety of nations, and impoverished the public stock of harmless pleasure.
Lives of the English Poets (1779)
But if he does really think that there is no distinction between virtue and vice, why, Sir, when he leaves our houses let us count our spoons.
Life of Samuel Johnson (1791)
I know not whether more is to be dreaded from streets filled with soldiers accustomed to plunder, or from garrets filled with scribblers accustomed to lies.
The Idler (1758)
Whoever wishes to attain an English style, familiar but not coarse, and elegant but not ostentatious, must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison.
Lives of the English Poets (1779)
Round numbers are always false.