Samuel Johnson

If lawyers were to undertake no causes till they were sure they were just, a man might be precluded altogether from a trial of his claim, though, were it judicially examined, it might be found a very just claim.

Then with no throbs of fiery pain, No cold gradations of decay, Death broke at once the vital chain, And freed his soul the nearest way.

And sure th' Eternal Master found His single talent well employ'd.

In misery's darkest cavern known, His useful care was ever nigh Where hopeless anguish pour'd his groan, And lonely want retir'd to die.

Officious, innocent, sincere, Of every friendless name the friend.

His [David Garrick's] death has eclipsed the gaiety of nations, and impoverished the public stock of harmless pleasure.

The Churchyard abounds with images which find a mirror in every mind, and with sentiments to which every bosom returns an echo.

He delighted to tread upon the brink of meaning.

That book is good in vain, which the reader throws away.

He that thinks himself capable of astonishing may write blank verse: but those that hope only to please must condescend to rhyme.

'Paradise Lost' is one of the books which the reader admires and lays down, and forgets to take up again. None ever wished it longer than it is.

Poetry is the art of uniting pleasure with truth, by calling imagination to the help of reason.

Whoever wishes to attain an English style, familiar but not coarse, and elegant but not ostentatious, must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison.

In this work are exhibited, in a very high degree, the two most engaging powers of an author. New things are made familiar, and familiar things are made new.

Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.

Language is the dress of thought.

Those writers who lay on the watch for novelty, could have little hope of greatness; for great things cannot have escaped former observation.

The true Genius is a mind of large general powers, accidentally determined to some particular direction.

The greater, far the greater number of those who rave and rail, and inquire and accuse, neither suspect nor fear, nor care for the publick; but hope to force their way to riches, by virulence and invective, and are vehement and clamorous, …

Some claim a place in the list of patriots, by an acrimonious and unremitting opposition to the court. This mark is by no means infallible. Patriotism is not necessarily included in rebellion. A man may hate his king, yet not love his …

Let us take a patriot, where we can meet him; and, that we may not flatter ourselves by false appearances, distinguish those marks which are certain, from those which may deceive; for a man may have the external appearance of a patriot, …

It ought to be deeply impressed on the minds of all who have voices in this national deliberation, that no man can deserve a seat in parliament, who is not a patriot.

"Some," answered Imlac, "have indeed said that the soul is material, but I can scarcely believe that any man has thought it, who knew how to think; for all the conclusions of reason enforce the immateriality of mind, and all the notices of …

The world is not yet exhausted: let me see something to-morrow which I never saw before.