2,116 Quotes by Samuel Johnson

Spring is the season of gaiety, and winter of terror; in spring the heart of tranquility dances to the melody of the groves, and the eye of benevolence sparkles at the sight of happiness and plenty: in winter, compassion melts at universal calamity, and the tear of softness starts at the wailing of hunger and the cries of the creation in distress

In the decline of life shame and grief are of short duration; whether it be that we bear easily what we have borne long; or that, finding ourselves in age less regarded, we less regard others; or, that we look with slight regard upon afflictions to w

Every man wishes to be wise, and they who cannot be wise are almost always cunning.

If what happens does not make us richer, we must welcome it if it makes us wiser.

I have heard him assert, that a tavern chair was the throne of human felicity

Laws teach us to know when we commit injury and when we suffer it.

The trade of advertising is now so near to perfection that it is not easy to propose any improvement. But as every art ought to be exercized in due subordination to the public good, I cannot but propose it as a moral question to these masters of the public ear, whether they do not sometimes play too wantonly with our passions.

All the performances of human art, at which we look with praise or wonder, are instances of the resistless force of perseverance.

Promise, large promise, is the soul of an advertisement.