James Boswell

"My lord and Dr Johnson disputed a little, whether the savage or the London shopkeeper had the best existence; his lordship, as usual, preferring the savage."

"Sir, said Mr Johnson, a lawyer has no business with the justice or injustice of the cause which he undertakes, unless his client asks his opinion, and then he is bound to give it honestly. The justice or injustice of the cause is to be decided by the judge."

"Influence must ever be in proportion to property; and it is right it should."

"As all who come into the country must obey the King, so all who come into an university must be of the Church."

"When I called upon Dr. Johnson next morning, I found him highly satisfied with his colloquial prowess the preceding evening. "Well, (said he,) we had good talk." BOSWELL: "Yes, Sir, you tossed and gored several persons."

"You are a philosopher, Dr. Johnson. I have tried too in my time to be a philosopher; but, I dont know how, cheerfulness was always breaking in."

"I fancy mankind may come, in time, to write all aphoristically."

"Such groundless fears will arise in the mind, before it has resumed its vigour after sleep!"

"We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over."

"Then, all censure of a mans self is oblique praise."

"[...] for the Doctor observed, that no man takes upon himself small blemishes without supposing that great abilities are attributed to him; and that, in short, this affectation of candour or modesty was but another kind of indirect self-praise, and had its foundation in vanity."

"The best good man, with the worst naturd muse."