"Corneille is to Shakespeare as a clipped hedge is to a forest."
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Quote collection
Samuel Johnson quotes (page 63 of 88)
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"It may be no less dangerous to claim, on certain occasions, too little than too much. There is something captivating in spirit and intrepidity, to which we often yield as to a resistless power; nor can we often yield as to a resistless power; nor can he reasonably expect the confidence of others who too apparently distrusts himself."
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"Self-love is a busy prompter."
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"He who would have fine guests, let him have a fine wife."
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"Wit is that which has been often thought, but never before was well expressed."
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"Fate wings, with every wish, the afflictive dart, Each gift of nature, and each grace of art."
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"You never find people laboring to convince you that you may live very happily upon a plentiful income."
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"Whosoever shall look heedfully upon those who are eminent for their riches will not think their condition such as that he should hazard his quiet, and much less his virtue, to obtain it, for all that great wealth generally gives above a moderate fortune is more room for the freaks of caprice, and more privilege for ignorance and vice, a quicker succession of flatteries, and a larger circle of voluptuousness."
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"When the desire of wealth is taking hold of the heart, let us look round and see how it operates upon than whose industry or fortune has obtained it. When we find them oppressed with their own abundance, luxurious without pleasure, idle without ease, impatient and querulous in themselves, and despised or hated by the rest of mankind, we shall soon be convinced that if the real wants of our condition are satisfied, there remains little to be sought with solicitude or desired with eagerness."
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"To purchase Heaven has gold the power? Can gold remove the mortal hour? In life can love be bought with gold? Are friendship's pleasures to be sold? No--all that's worth a wish--a thought, Fair virtue gives unbribed, unbought. Cease then on trash thy hopes to bind, Let nobler views engage thy mind."
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"Wasting a fortune is evaporation by a thousand imperceptible means."
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"The king who makes war on his enemies tenderly distresses his subjects most cruelly."
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"All unnecessary vows are folly, because they suppose a prescience of the future, which has not been given us."
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"Most men are more willing to indulge in easy vices than to practise laborious virtues."
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"Political liberty is only good insofar as it produces private liberty."
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"Truth, such as is necessary to the reputation of life, is always found where it is honestly sought."
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"Ancient travelers guessed; modern travelers measure."
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"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."
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"Year chases year, decay pursues decay, Still drops some joy from with'ring life away; New forms arise, and diff'rent views engage"
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"Nothing odd will do long. Tristram Shandy did not last."
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