Samuel Johnson

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Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in journal entry, written by James Boswell. 7 Apr. 1778.

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

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The triumph of hope over experience.

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell

On a man who married again after the death of his first wife, with whom he had been unhappy.

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, written by James Boswell. Vol. 1, London: Charles Dilly, 1791, "1770," aetat. 61.

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

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Sir, a woman's preaching is like a dog's walking on his hinder legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all.

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in journal entry, written by James Boswell. 31 July 1763.

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

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Claret is the liquor for the boys; port, for men; but he who aspires to be a hero (smiling) must drink brandy.

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in journal entry, written by James Boswell. 7 Apr. 1779.

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

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No, Sir; to act from pure benevolence is not possible for finite beings. Human benevolence is mingled with vanity, interest, or some other motive.

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in journal entry, written by James Boswell. 26 Apr. 1776.

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

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Such is the delight of mental superiority , that none on, whom nature or study have conferred it, would purchase the gifts of fortune by its loss.

Samuel Johnson

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Johnson, Samuel. The Rambler. London: J. Payne and J. Bouquet, 24 Aug. 1751.

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Consider, Sir, how insignificant this will appear a twelvemonth hence.

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in journal entry by James Boswell. 6 July 1763.

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

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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.

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, by James Boswell

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in journal entry, written by James Boswell. 15 Aug. 1773.

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Johnson, Samuel and James Boswell. "The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides." A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland and the Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, edited by Jack Lynch and Celia Barnes. Oxford University Press, 2021.

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I will be conquered; I will not capitulate.

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell

On his illness.

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Original Citation

Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, written by James Boswell. Vol. 1, London: Charles Dilly, 1791, "1776," aetat. 46.

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

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Every man has a lurking wish to appear considerable in his native place.

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in Letters of Samuel Johnson, by James Boswell

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Johnson, Samuel. Letter to Sir Joshua Reynolds. 17 July 1771.

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

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Most schemes of political improvement are very laughable things.

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in journal entry, written by James Boswell. 26 Oct. 1769.

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

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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

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in journal entry by James Boswell. 27 Oct. 1769.

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

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Example is always more efficacious than precept.

Samuel Johnson

The Prince of Abissinia: A Tale

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Johnson, Samuel. The Prince of Abissinia: A Tale. London: R. and J. Dodsley/W. Johnston, 1759, ch. 30.

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Johnson, Samuel. The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia. Penguin Classics, 2007, ch. 30.

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

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in journal entry by James Boswell. 31 Mar. 1772.

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

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

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in journal entry, written by James Boswell. 20 Mar. 1776.

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

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So it is in travelling; a man must carry knowledge with him, if he would bring home knowledge.

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell

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Original Citation

Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in journal entry, written by James Boswell. 17 Apr. 1776.

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

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He that runs against Time has an antagonist not subject to casualties.

Samuel Johnson

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Johnson, Samuel. "Pope." Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets. London: C. Bathurst, et al., 1781.

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Johnson, Samuel. "Pope." The Lives of the Poets: A Selection, edited by Roger Lonsdale. Oxford University Press, 2009.

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All censure of a man's self is oblique praise. It is in order to shew how much he can spare.

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in journal entry, written by James Boswell. 25 Apr. 1778.

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

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Depend upon it, Sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in journal entry, written by James Boswell. 19 Sept. 1777.

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

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Life admits not of delays; when pleasure can be had, it is fit to catch it. Every hour takes away part of the things that please us, and perhaps part of our disposition to be pleased.

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in Letters of Samuel Johnson, by James Boswell

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Original Citation

Johnson, Samuel. Letter to James Boswell. 1 Sept. 1777.

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

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