A man who uses a great many words to express his meaning is like a bad marksman who, instead of aiming a single stone at an object, takes up a handful and throws at it in hopes he may hit

Quote by Samuel Johnson

Topics: Meaning Quotes

Words are but the signs of ideas.

Words are but the signs of ideas.

Pain is less subject than pleasure to careless expression.

Pain is less subject than pleasure to careless expression.

I have no more pleasure in hearing a man attempting wit and failing, than in...

I have no more pleasure in hearing a man attempting wit and failing, than in...

Those who do not feel pain seldom think that it is felt

Those who do not feel pain seldom think that it is felt

There are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humor, cannot find its way.

There are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humor, cannot find its way.

Such is the state of life, that none are happy but by the anticipation of...

Such is the state of life, that none are happy but by the anticipation of...

Many things difficult to design prove easy to performance.

Many things difficult to design prove easy to performance.

Power is not sufficient evidence of truth

Power is not sufficient evidence of truth

No place affords a more striking conviction of the vanity of human hopes than a...

No place affords a more striking conviction of the vanity of human hopes than a...

Knowledge is more than equivalent to force.

Knowledge is more than equivalent to force.

Clear your mind of cant.

Clear your mind of cant.

I soon found that wit, like every other power, has its boundaries; that its success...

I soon found that wit, like every other power, has its boundaries; that its success...

Merit is much more cheaply acknowledged than rewarded

Merit is much more cheaply acknowledged than rewarded

A man will turn over half a library to make one book.

A man will turn over half a library to make one book.

Treating your adversary with respect is striking soft in battle.

Treating your adversary with respect is striking soft in battle.

Courage is the greatest of all virtues, because if you haven't courage, you may not...

Courage is the greatest of all virtues, because if you haven't courage, you may not...

Books like friends, should be few and well-chosen.

Books like friends, should be few and well-chosen.

It is not true that people are naturally equal for no two people can be...

It is not true that people are naturally equal for no two people can be...

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

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

The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from...

The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from...