Samuel Johnson

The applause of a single human being is of great consequence.

He that outlives a wife whom he has long loved, sees himself disjoined from the only mind that has the same hopes, and fears, and interest; from the only companion with whom he has shared much good and evil; and with whom he could set his mind at liberty, to retrace the past or anticipate the future. The continuity of being is lacerated; the settled course of sentiment and action is stopped; and life stands suspended and motionless.

If he really thinks there is no distinction between vice and virtue, when he leaves our houses let us count our spoons.

If a man could say nothing against a character but what he can prove, history could not be written.

Their learning is like bread in a besieged town: every man gets a little, but no man gets a full meal.

Turn on the prudent ant thy heedful eyes. Observe her labors, sluggard, and be wise.

They have a right to censure that have a heart to help: the rest is cruelty, not justice.

Give, even if you only have little.

Nothing is more hopeless than a scheme of merriment.

Be passionate about something and lean to that strength.

An election is coming. Universal peace is declared, and the foxes have a sincere interest in prolonging the lives of the poultry.

Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.

We are not victims of aging, sickness and death. These are part of scenery, not the seer, who is immune to any form of change. This seer is the spirit, the expression of eternal being.

Children sweeten labours, but they make misfortunes more bitter.

One lesson we learn early, that in spite of seeming difference, men are all of one pattern. We readily assume this with our mates, and are disappointed and angry if we find that we are premature, and that their watches are slower than ours. In fact, the only sin which we never forgive in each other is difference of opinion.

Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times.

Success must include two things: the development of an individual to his utmost potentiality and a contribution of some kind to one’s world.

He is great who confers the most benefits.

Depend upon it that if a man talks of his misfortunes there is something in them that is not disagreeable to him; for where there is nothing but pure misery there never is any recourse to the mention of it.

Haven’t you learned yet that I put something more than whisky into my speeches.

Whenever, therefore, people are deceived and form opinions wide of the truth, it is clear that the error has slid into their minds through the medium of certain resemblances to that truth.