2,116 Quotes by Samuel Johnson

Whoever thinks of going to bed before twelve o’clock is a scoundrel.

A short letter to a distant friend is, in my opinion, an insult like that of a slight bow or cursory salutation – a proof of unwillingness to do much, even where there is a necessity of doing something.

In the description of night in Macbeth, the beetle and the bat detract from the general idea of darkness – inspissated gloom.

His virtues walked their narrow round, Nor made a pause, nor left a void; And sure the Eternal Master found The single talent well employed.

John Wesley’s conversation is good, but he is never at leisure. He is always obliged to go at a certain hour. This is very disagreeable to a man who loves to fold his legs and have his talk out as I do.

Wine gives great pleasure, and every pleasure is of itself a good. and A man should cultivate his mind so as to have that confidence and readiness without wine, which wine gives.

Smoking is a shocking thing – blowing smoke out of our mouths into other people’s mouths, eyes, and noses, and having the same thing done to us.

Women have two weapons – cosmetics and tears.

To talk in public, to think in solitude, to read and to hear, to inquire and answer inquiries, is the business of the scholar.