2,116 Quotes by Samuel Johnson

The liberty of using harmless pleasure will not be disputed; but it is still to be examined what pleasures are harmless.

Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous mind.

Truth, Sir, is a cow which will yield such people no more milk, and so they are gone to milk the bull.

Solitude is dangerous to reason, without being favorable to virtue. Remember that the solitary mortal is certainly luxurious, probably superstitious, and possibly mad.

To be idle and to be poor have always been reproaches, and therefore every man endeavors with his utmost care to hide his poverty from others, and his idleness from himself.

Nothing is more common than mutual dislike, where mutual approbation is particularly expected.

Where secrecy or mystery begins, vice or roguery is not far off.

Trust as little as you can to report, and examine all you can by your own senses.

Dogs have not the power of comparing. A dog will take a small piece of meat as readily as a large, when both are before him.