"We never do anything consciously for the last time without sadness of heart."
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Quote collection
Samuel Johnson quotes (page 85 of 88)
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"The relief of enemies has a tendency to unite mankind in fraternal affection."
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"I have adopted the Roman sentiment, that it is more honorable to save a citizen than to kill an enemy."
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"It is wonderful what a difference learning makes upon people even in the common intercourse of life, which does not appear to be much connected with it."
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"I am always for getting a boy forward in his learning, for that is sure good. I would let him at first read any English book which happens to engage his attention; because you have done a great deal when you have brought him to have entertainment from a book. He'll get better books afterwards."
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"Though the discoveries or acquisitions of man are not always adequate to the expectations of his pride, they are at least sufficient to animate his industry."
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"Such is the emptiness of human enjoyment that we are always impatient of the present. Attainment is followed by neglect, and possession by disgust."
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"Before dinner men meet with great inequality of understanding; and those who are conscious of their inferiority have the modesty not to talk; when they have drunk wine, every man feels himself happy, and loses that modesty, and grows impudent and vociferous; but he is not improved; he is only not sensible of his defects."
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"Their origin is commonly unknown; for the practice often continues when the cause has ceased, and concerning superstitious ceremonies it is in vain to conjecture; for what reason did not dictate, reason cannot explain."
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"Few men survey themselves with so much severity as not to admit prejudices in their own favor."
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"Every man is of importance to himself."
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"It is not often that any man can have so much knowledge of another, as is necessary to make instruction useful."
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"A man may write at any time, if he will set himself doggedly to it."
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"So different are the colors of life, as we look forward to the future, or backward to the past; and so different the opinions and sentiments which this contrariety of appearance naturally produces, that the conversation of the old and young ends generally with contempt or pity on either side."
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"And panting Time toil'd after him in vain."
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"Enlarge my life with multitude of days, In health, in sickness, thus the suppliant prays; Hides from himself his state, and shuns to know, That life protracted is protracted woe. Time hovers o'er, impatient to destroy, And shuts up all the passages of joy."
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"men do not suspect faults which they do not commit"
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"I have already enjoyed too much; give me something to desire."
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"But, perhaps, the flatterer is not often detected; for an honest mind is not apt to suspect, and no one exerts the power of discernment with much vigour when selflove favors the deceit."
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"Pope had been flattered till he thought himself one of the moving powers of the system of life. When he talked of laying down his pen, those who sat round him intreated and implored; and self-love did not suffer him to suspect that they went away and laughed."
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