Samuel Johnson

No man was ever great by imitation.

It is generally known, that he who expects much will be often disappointed; yet disappointment seldom cures us of expectation, or has any effect other than that of producing a moral sentence or peevish exclamation.

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

Words are but the signs of ideas.

Depend upon it, Sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.

More knowledge may be gained of a man’s real character by a short conversation with one of his servants than from a formal and studied narrative, begun with his pedigree and ended with his funeral.

To him whose elastic and vigorous thought keeps pace with the sun, the day is a perpetual morning.

My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.

To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.

It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.

The mould of a man’s fortune is in his own hands.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Let us try what love will do.

God’s first creature, which was light.

Don’t seek, don’t search, don’t ask, don’t knock, don’t demand — relax!

Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.

We’re so infatuated with studying labels that we forget to read between the lines of one another.

I am a child of the House of Commons. I was brought up in my fathers house to believe in democracy. Trust the peoplethat was his message.

There are few things that we so unwillingly give up, even in advanced age, as the supposition that we still have the power of ingratiating ourselves with the fair sex.

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail.

If a better system is thine, impart it; if not, make use of mine.