The present time is seldom able to fill desire or imagination with immediate enjoyment, and we are forced to supply its deficiencies by recollection or anticipation.

Quote by Samuel Johnson

Topics: Happiness Quotes, Past Quotes

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...

Excellence in any department can be attained only by the labor of a lifetime; it...

Excellence in any department can be attained only by the labor of a lifetime; it...

The joy of life is variety; the tenderest love requires to be rekindled by intervals...

The joy of life is variety; the tenderest love requires to be rekindled by intervals...

Those that have loved longest love best.

Those that have loved longest love best.

It is better a man should be abused than forgotten.

It is better a man should be abused than forgotten.

Poetry is the art of uniting pleasure with truth.

Poetry is the art of uniting pleasure with truth.

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...

One of the disadvantages of wine is that it makes a man mistake words for...

One of the disadvantages of wine is that it makes a man mistake words for...

I had rather see the portrait of a dog that I know, than all the...

I had rather see the portrait of a dog that I know, than all the...

What is easy is seldom excellent.

What is easy is seldom excellent.

Credulity is the common failing of inexperienced virtue; and he who is spontaneously suspicious may...

Credulity is the common failing of inexperienced virtue; and he who is spontaneously suspicious may...

Every man wishes to be wise, and they who cannot be wise are almost always...

Every man wishes to be wise, and they who cannot be wise are almost always...

Poverty is often concealed in splendor, and often in extravagance. It is the task of...

Poverty is often concealed in splendor, and often in extravagance. It is the task of...

I believe marriages would in general be as happy, and often more so, if they...

I believe marriages would in general be as happy, and often more so, if they...

Life is a progress from want to want, not from enjoyment to enjoyment.

Life is a progress from want to want, not from enjoyment to enjoyment.

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...

Little people do not wear well under either extremes of fortune

Little people do not wear well under either extremes of fortune

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...

When any calamity has been suffered the first thing to be remembered is, how much...

When any calamity has been suffered the first thing to be remembered is, how much...

No man was ever great by imitation.

No man was ever great by imitation.