2,116 Quotes by Samuel Johnson

The common people do not accurately adapt their thoughts to objects; nor, secondly, do they accurately adapt their words to their thoughts; they do not mean to lie; but, taking no pains to be exact, they give you very false accounts. A great part of their language is proverbial; if anything rocks at all, they say it rocks like a cradle; and in this way they go on.

The civilities of the great are never thrown away.

I love the acquaintance of young people; because, in the first place, I do not like to think myself growing old. In the next place, young acquaintances must last longest, if they do last; and then, sir, young men have more virtue than old men; they have more generous sentiments in every respect.

Every human being whose mind is not debauched, will be willing to give all that he has to get knowledge.

I know not any crime so great that a man could contrive to commit as poisoning the sources of eternal truth.

It is not uncommon to charge the difference between promise and performance, between profession and reality, upon deep design and studied deceit; but the truth is, that there is very little hypocrisy in the world.

A voyage to the moon, however romantick and absurd the scheme may now appear, since the properties of air have been better understood, seemed highly probable to many of the aspiring wits in the last century

Unless a woman has an amorous heart, she is a dull companion.

Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself, and don't think of retiring from the world, until the world will be sorry that you retire.