While an author is yet living we estimate his powers by his worst performance, and when he is dead we rate them by his best

Quote by Samuel Johnson

Topics: Writers Quotes

Bachelors have consciences, married men have wives.

Bachelors have consciences, married men have wives.

Of all noises, I think music is the least disagreeable.

Of all noises, I think music is the least disagreeable.

Just praise is only a debt, but flattery is a present

Just praise is only a debt, but flattery is a present

To be idle and to be poor have always been reproaches, and therefore every man...

To be idle and to be poor have always been reproaches, and therefore every man...

When a man marries a widow his jealousies revert to the past: no man is...

When a man marries a widow his jealousies revert to the past: no man is...

Prepare for death, if here at night you roam, and sign your will before you...

Prepare for death, if here at night you roam, and sign your will before you...

It is better a man should be abused than forgotten.

It is better a man should be abused than forgotten.

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...

Whatever is attempted without previous certainty of success, may be considered as a project, and...

Whatever is attempted without previous certainty of success, may be considered as a project, and...

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...

Advice is offensive, it shows us that we are known to others as well as...

Advice is offensive, it shows us that we are known to others as well as...

A fishing pole is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool...

A fishing pole is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool...

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...

When once a man has made celebrity necessary to his happiness, he has put it...

When once a man has made celebrity necessary to his happiness, he has put it...

A vow is a snare for sin

A vow is a snare for sin

Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.

Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.

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...

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 man has joined, nature is powerless to put asunder.

What man has joined, nature is powerless to put asunder.

Copy nature and you infringe on the work of our Lord. Interpret nature and you...

Copy nature and you infringe on the work of our Lord. Interpret nature and you...