Samuel Johnson

Classical quotation is the parole of literary men all over the world.

Smoking is a shocking thing - blowing smoke out of our mouths into other people's mouths, eyes, and noses, and having the same thing done to us.

A man in general is better pleased when he has a good dinner than when his wife talks Greek.

A cow is a very good animal in the field, but we turn her out of a garden.

All the arguments which are brought to represent poverty as no evil show it to be evidently a great evil.

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

I never desire to converse with a man who has written more than he has read.

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 one book.

Your manuscript is both good and original; but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good.

A man in jail has more room, better food, and commonly better company.

To improve the golden moment of opportunity and catch the good that is within our reach is the great art of life.

Oats: A grain which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people.

What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.

Treating your adversary with respect is giving him an advantage to which he is not entitled.

That is the happiest conversation where there is no competition, no vanity but a calm quiet interchange of sentiments.

The applause of a single human being is of great consequence.

Szczęście nie znaczy nic, jeśli inni o nim nie wiedzą, a znaczy bardzo mało, jeśli go nie zazdroszczą.

Miłość własna jest częściej raczej arogancka niż ślepa; ona nie ukrywa naszych błędów przed nami, tylko łudzi nas, że inni ich nie dostrzegają.

Do not accustom yourself to consider debt only as an inconvenience. You will find it a calamity.

Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves or we know where we can find information upon it.

If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.

A man ought to read just as inclination leads him; for what he reads as a task will do him little good.

Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

I am always sorry when any language is lost, because languages are the pedigrees of nations.

Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information on it.

It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust.

Pleasure is very seldom found where it is sought; our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.

There can be no friendship without confidence, and no confidence without integrity.

Few things are impossible to diligence and skill ... Great works are performed, not by strength, but perseverence.

What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence.

A cucumber whould be well sliced, and dressed with pepper and viniger, and then thrown out, as good for nothing.

Round numbers are always false.

It is better to live rich than to die rich.

Language is only the instrument of science, and words are but the signs of ideas.

Language is the dress of thought.

When once a man has made celebrity necessary to his happiness, he has put it in the power of the weakest and most timourous malignity, if not to take away his satisfaction, at least to withhold it. His enemies may indulge their pride by airy negligence and gratify their malice by quiet neutrality.

Genius is that energy which collects, combines, amplifies, and animates.

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

How small of all that human hearts endure That part which laws or kings can cause or cure! Still to ourselves in every place ensigned Our own felicity we make or find.

Jest to dla człowieka najbardziej porażająca refleksja, gdy ujrzy to czego dokonał w świetle tego co mógłby.

It is a most mortifying reflection for a man to consider what he has done, compared to what he might have done.

Nie wiem czego bardziej bać się należy, ulic pełnych przyzwyczajonego do grabieży żołdactwa, czy strychów pełnych pisarzy nawykłych do kłamstwa.

I know not whether more is to be dreaded from streets filled with soldiers accustomed to plunder or from garrets filled with scribblers accustomed to lie.

Odwaga jest największą ze wszystkich cnót, ponieważ jeśli nie masz odwagi, możesz nie mieć możliwości wykorzystania żadnej z pozostałych.

Courage is the greatest of all virtues, because if you haven't courage, you may not have an opportunity to use any of the others.

He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.

Dwie najbardziej angażujące moce autora: nowe rzeczy stają się znane, a znane rzeczy stają się nowe.

The Two Most Engaging Powers of an Author: New Things Are Made Familiar, and Familiar Things Are Made New