He that reads and grows no wiser seldom suspects his own deficiency, but complains of hard words and obscure sentences, and asks why books are written which cannot be understood.

Quote by Samuel Johnson

Topics: Books Quotes

Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those who we cannot resemble.

Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those who we cannot resemble.

We owe few of the rules of writing to the acuteness of critics, who have...

We owe few of the rules of writing to the acuteness of critics, who have...

I hope I shall never be deterred from detecting what I think a cheat, by...

I hope I shall never be deterred from detecting what I think a cheat, by...

I am not so much inclined to wonder that marriage is sometimes unhappy, as that...

I am not so much inclined to wonder that marriage is sometimes unhappy, as that...

We love to expect, and when expectation is either disappointed or gratified, we want to...

We love to expect, and when expectation is either disappointed or gratified, we want to...

Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself, and don't think of retiring from the world, until...

Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself, and don't think of retiring from the world, until...

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

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

To cultivate kindness is a valuable part of the business of life.

To cultivate kindness is a valuable part of the business of life.

To tell of disappointment and misery, to thicken the darkness of futurity, and perplex the...

To tell of disappointment and misery, to thicken the darkness of futurity, and perplex the...

It is natural for every man uninstructed to murmur at his condition, because, in the...

It is natural for every man uninstructed to murmur at his condition, because, in the...

That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our...

That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our...

Between falsehood and useless truth there is little difference. As gold which he cannot spend...

Between falsehood and useless truth there is little difference. As gold which he cannot spend...

Money confounds subordination.

Money confounds subordination.

Pride is seldom delicate, it will please itself with very mean advantages; and envy feels...

Pride is seldom delicate, it will please itself with very mean advantages; and envy feels...

Almost every man wastes part of his life attempting to display qualities which he does...

Almost every man wastes part of his life attempting to display qualities which he does...

The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong...

The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong...

The commercial world is very frequently put into confusion by the bankruptcy of merchants, that...

The commercial world is very frequently put into confusion by the bankruptcy of merchants, that...

So many objections may be made to everything, that nothing can overcome them but the...

So many objections may be made to everything, that nothing can overcome them but the...

We are inclined to believe those whom we do not know because they have never...

We are inclined to believe those whom we do not know because they have never...

A fly, Sir, may sting a stately horse and make him wince; but, one is...

A fly, Sir, may sting a stately horse and make him wince; but, one is...