Samuel Johnson

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It is so far from being natural for a man and woman to live in a state of marriage, that we find all the motives which they have for remaining in that connection, and the restraints which civilized society imposes to prevent separation, are hardly sufficient to keep them together.

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

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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Human life is everywhere a state in which much is to be endured and a little to be enjoyed.

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. 11.

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Johnson, Samuel. The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia. Penguin Classics, 2007, ch. 11.

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That all who are happy, are equally happy, is not true. A peasant and a philosopher may be equally satisfied, but not equally happy. Happiness consists in the multiplicity of agreeable consciousness.

Samuel Johnson

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

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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, "1766," aetat. 57.

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Current Citation

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

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Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it makes some virtues impracticable, and others extremely difficult.

Samuel Johnson

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in journal entry, written by James Boswell. 7 Dec. 1782.

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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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Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.

Samuel Johnson

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Johnson, Samuel. The Rambler. London: J. Payne and J. Bouquet, 12 Mar. 1751.

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Why, sir, a man grows better humoured as he grows older. He improves by experience. When young, he thinks himself of great consequence, and every thing of importance. As he advances in life, he learns to think himself of no consequence, and little things of little importance; and so he becomes more patient, and better pleased.

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. 14 Sept. 1773.

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Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in "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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To be of no Church is dangerous. Religion, of which the rewards are distant, and which is animated only by faith and hope, will glide by degrees out of the mind, unless it be invigorated and reimpressed by eternal ordinances, by stated calls to worship, and the salutary influence of example.

Samuel Johnson

Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets

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

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

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Life is a progress from want to want, not from enjoyment to enjoyment.

Samuel Johnson

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

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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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Current Citation

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

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