Mankind have a great aversion to intellectual labor; but even supposing knowledge to be easily attainable, more people would be content to be ignorant than would take even a little trouble to acquire it

Quote by Samuel Johnson

Topics: Knowledge Quotes, Mankind Quotes

The wretched have no compassion, they can do good only from strong principles of duty.

The wretched have no compassion, they can do good only from strong principles of duty.

There is, indeed, nothing that so much seduces reason from vigilance, as the thought of...

There is, indeed, nothing that so much seduces reason from vigilance, as the thought of...

To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition, the end to...

To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition, the end to...

A wise man is cured of ambition by ambition itself; his aim is so exalted...

A wise man is cured of ambition by ambition itself; his aim is so exalted...

Where grief is fresh, any attempt to divert it only irritates.

Where grief is fresh, any attempt to divert it only irritates.

Bachelors have consciences, married men have wives.

Bachelors have consciences, married men have wives.

One of the amusements of idleness is reading without the fatigue of close attention; and...

One of the amusements of idleness is reading without the fatigue of close attention; and...

Dictionaries are like watches, the worst is better than none and the best cannot be...

Dictionaries are like watches, the worst is better than none and the best cannot be...

Moral sentences appear ostentatious and tumid, when they have no greater occasions than the journey...

Moral sentences appear ostentatious and tumid, when they have no greater occasions than the journey...

Subordination tends greatly to human happiness. Were we all upon an equality, we should have...

Subordination tends greatly to human happiness. Were we all upon an equality, we should have...

Before marriage a woman is pensive, after marriage, expensive

Before marriage a woman is pensive, after marriage, expensive

If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is...

If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is...

He that reads and grows no wiser seldom suspects his own deficiency, but complains of...

He that reads and grows no wiser seldom suspects his own deficiency, but complains of...

Controversies merely speculative are of small importance in themselves, however they may have sometimes heated...

Controversies merely speculative are of small importance in themselves, however they may have sometimes heated...

I have always said, the first Whig was the Devil~

I have always said, the first Whig was the Devil~

Memory is the primary and fundamental power, without which there could be no other intellectual...

Memory is the primary and fundamental power, without which there could be no other intellectual...

When I was as you are now, towering in the confidence of 21, little did...

When I was as you are now, towering in the confidence of 21, little did...

Small debts are like small shot; they are rattling on every side, and can scarcely...

Small debts are like small shot; they are rattling on every side, and can scarcely...

America's fighting men and women sacrifice much to ensure that our great nation stays free....

America's fighting men and women sacrifice much to ensure that our great nation stays free....

Debt is a bottomless sea.

Debt is a bottomless sea.