That man (Lord Lyttelton) sat down to write a book, to tell the world what the world had all his life been telling him

Quote by Samuel Johnson

Topics: Books Quotes

Golf: A game in which you claim the privileges of age and retain the playthings...

Golf: A game in which you claim the privileges of age and retain the playthings...

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.

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

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

There is nothing more fatal to a man whose business is to think than to...

There is nothing more fatal to a man whose business is to think than to...

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

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

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...

Nature has given women so much power that the law has very wisely given them...

Nature has given women so much power that the law has very wisely given them...

What is easy is seldom excellent.

What is easy is seldom excellent.

To prevent evil is the great end of government, the end for which vigilance and...

To prevent evil is the great end of government, the end for which vigilance and...

I would consent to have a limb amputated to recover my spirits

I would consent to have a limb amputated to recover my spirits

It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than open one's mouth...

It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than open one's mouth...

A man is in general better pleased when he has a good dinner upon his...

A man is in general better pleased when he has a good dinner upon his...

A man who has not been in Italy, is always conscious of an inferiority.

A man who has not been in Italy, is always conscious of an inferiority.

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...

He that is pushing his predecessors into the gulf of obscurity, cannot but sometimes suspect,...

He that is pushing his predecessors into the gulf of obscurity, cannot but sometimes suspect,...

It is generally known, that he who expects much will be often disappointed; yet disappointment...

It is generally known, that he who expects much will be often disappointed; yet disappointment...

Scarcely any degree of judgment is sufficient to restrain the imagination from magnifying that on...

Scarcely any degree of judgment is sufficient to restrain the imagination from magnifying that on...

Bachelors have consciences, married men have wives.

Bachelors have consciences, married men have wives.

At seventy-seven it is time to be in earnest.

At seventy-seven it is time to be in earnest.

There are minds so impatient of inferiority that their gratitude is a species of revenge,...

There are minds so impatient of inferiority that their gratitude is a species of revenge,...