Samuel Johnson

Hope is itself a species of happiness, and, perhaps, the chief happiness which this world affords: but, like all other pleasures immoderately enjoyed, the excesses of hope must be expiated by pain; and expectations improperly indulged, must end in disappointment. If it be asked, what is the improper expectation which it is dangerous to indulge, experience will quickly answer, that it is such expectation as is dictated not by reason, but by desire; expectation raised, not by the common occurrences of life, but by the wants of the expectant; an expectation that requires the common course of things to be changed, and the general rules of action to be broken.

He who praises every body, praises nobody.

Tomorrow is an old deceiver, and his cheat never grows stale.

A Judge may be a farmer; but he is not to geld his own pigs. A Judge may play a little at cards for his own amusement; but he is not to play at marbles, or chuck farthing in the Piazza.

Were it not for imagination a man would be as happy in arms of a chambermaid as of a duchess.

In a man’s letters you know, Madam, his soul lies naked, his letters are only the mirror of his breast, whatever passes within him is shown undisguised in its natural process. Nothing is inverted, nothing distorted, you see systems in their elements, you discover actions in their motives.

Sorrow makes us children again.

Just praise is only a debt, but flattery is a present.

Your depression is connected to your insolence and refusal to praise.

For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction.

For what are the classics but the noblest thoughts of man? They are the only oracles which are not decayed, and there are such answers to the most modern inquiry in them as Delphi and Dodona never gave. We might as well omit to study Nature because she is old.

Paradise Lost is a book that, once put down, is very hard to pick up again.

I have had to learn that my voice has value. And if I don’t use it, what’s the point of being in the room?

Images also help me find and realise ideas. I look at hundreds of very different, contrasting images and I pinch details from them, rather like people who eat from other people

Not believing in force is the same as not believing in gravity.

Boldness is ever blind, for it sees not dangers and inconveniences whence it is bad in council though good in execution.

Principles aren’t of much account anyway, except at election time. After that you hang them up to let them season.

Friendship increases in visiting friends, but in visiting them seldom.

All Excess is ill: But Drunkenness is of the worst Sort. It spoils Health, dismounts the Mind, and unmans Men: It reveals Secrets, is Quarrelsome, Lascivious, Impudent, Dangerous and Mad. In fine, he that is drunk is not a Man: Because he is so long void of Reason, that distinguishes a Man from a Beast.

Originality is a device that untalented people use to impress other untalented people to protect themselves from talented people…

It is better to be a young June-bug than an old bird of paradise.