" Do not accustom yourself to use big words for little matters. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" Such is the common process of marriage. A youth and maiden exchange meeting by chance, or brought together by artifice, exchange glances, reciprocate civilities, go home, and dream of one another. Having little to divert attention, or diversify thought, they find themselves uneasy when they are apart, and therefore conclude that they shall be happy together. They marry, and discover what nothing but voluntary blindness had before concealed; they wear out life in altercations, and charge nature with cruelty. "

Samuel Johnson, Rasselas English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" You raise your voice when you should reinforce your argument. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" Of all the griefs that harass the distrest,
Sure the most bitter is a scornful jest. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" You teach your daugthers the diameters of the planets and wonder when you are done that they do not delight in your company. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives. The act of dying is not of importance, it lasts so short a time. "

Samuel Johnson, Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" A man may be so much of everything that he is nothing of anything. "

Samuel Johnson, (attributed) English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" Men are generally idle, and ready to satisfy themselves, and intimidate the industry of others, by calling that impossible which is only difficult. "

Samuel Johnson, Life of Boerhaave English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" Oats. A grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people. "

Samuel Johnson, A Dictionary of the English Language English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" There is no observation more frequently made by such as employ themselves in surveying the conduct of mankind, than that marriage, though the dictate of nature, and the institution of Providence, is yet very often the cause of misery, and that those who enter into that state can seldom forbear to express their repentance, and their envy of those whom either chance or caution hath withheld from it. "

Samuel Johnson, Rambler #18 English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" No place affords a more striking conviction of the vanity of human hopes than a public library. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself alone. A man should keep his friendships in constant repair. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" The Irish are a fair people – they never speak well of one another. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" Americans are a race of convicts and ought to be thankful for anything we allow them short of hanging. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" He is a benefactor of mankind who contracts the great rules of life into short sentences, that may be easily impressed on the memory, and so recur habitually to the mind. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" Knowledge is of two kinds: we know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those whom we cannot resemble. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" Abstinence is as easy to me, as temperance would be difficult. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" To get a name can happen but to few; it is one of the few things that cannot be brought. It is the free gift of mankind, which must be deserved before it will be granted, and is at last unwillingly bestowed. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

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

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" Grief is a species of idleness. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. "

Samuel Johnson, Letter to Lord Chesterfield, 1775 English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good. "

Samuel Johnson, (attributed; also attributed to Ann Landers) English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

" It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust. "

Samuel Johnson English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 – 1784)

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