Samuel Johnson
England
18 Sep 1709 // 13 Dec 1784
Writer
18 Sep 1709 // 13 Dec 1784
Writer
Quotes
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The true art of memory is the art of attention
The only end of writing is to enable readers better to enjoy life or better to endue it
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
The love of life is necessary to the vigorous prosecution of any undertaking
The happiest conversation is that of which nothing is distinctly remembered, but a general effect of pleasing impression
The greatest part of a writer's time is spent in reading in order to write. A man will turn over half a library to make a book
The advice that is wanted is commonly not welcome and that which is not wanted, evidently an effrontery
Surely a long life must be somewhat tedious, since we are forced to call in so many trifling things to help rid us of our time, which will never return
Such is the state of life, that none are happy but by the anticipation of change: the change itself is nothing; when we have made it, the next wish is to change again
Subordination tends greatly to human happiness. Were we all upon an equality, we should have no other enjoyment than mere animal pleasure
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On Anger: "For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind."
Essays
Essays
On Destiny: "Our destiny exercises its influence over us even when, as yet, we have not learned its nature: it is our future that lays down the law of our today."
Human, All Too Human
Human, All Too Human
On Friendship: "A crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love."
Essays
Essays