quotes from classic

The mind is never satisfied with the objects immediately before it, but is always breaking away from the present moment, and losing itself in schemes of future felicity... The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope.

more quotes from Samuel Johnson

It generally happens that assurance keeps an even pace with ability.

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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.

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Everything that enlarges the sphere of human powers, that shows man he can do what he thought he could not do, is valuable.

more quotes from Samuel Johnson

There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern.

more quotes from Samuel Johnson

I would not give half a guinea to live under one form of government other than another. It is of no moment to the happiness of an individual.

more quotes from Samuel Johnson

When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.

more quotes from Samuel Johnson

Life cannot subsist in society but by reciprocal concessions.

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By taking a second wife he pays the highest compliment to the first, by showing that she made him so happy as a married man, that he wishes to be so a second time.

more quotes from Samuel Johnson

Promise, large promise, is the soul of an advertisement.

more quotes from Samuel Johnson

All the arguments which are brought to represent poverty as no evil show it evidently to be a great evil.

more quotes from Samuel Johnson

Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.

more quotes from Samuel Johnson

There are some sluggish men who are improved by drinking; as there are fruits that are not good until they are rotten.

more quotes from Samuel Johnson

We are long before we are convinced that happiness is never to be found, and each believes it possessed by others, to keep alive the hope of obtaining it for himself.

more quotes from Samuel Johnson

A fly may sting a stately horse and make him wince; but one is but an insect, and the other is a horse still.

more quotes from Samuel Johnson

When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.

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What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence.

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Exercise is labor without weariness.

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But if he does really think that there is no distinction between virtue and vice, why, Sir, when he leaves our houses, let us count our spoons.

more quotes from Samuel Johnson

Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not.

more quotes from Samuel Johnson