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Samuel Johnson quotes

English (26)

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“Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“Ignorance, when it is voluntary, is criminal; and he may properly be charged with evil who refused to learn how he might prevent it.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“Some have little power to do good, and have likewise little strength to resist evil.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“Nothing . . . will ever be attempted if all possible objections must be first overcome.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance; yonder palace was raised by single stones, yet you see its height and spaciousness.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“Human life is everywhere a state in which much is to be endured and little to be enjoyed.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“I have already enjoyed too much: give me something to desire.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“Be not too hasty . . . to trust or to admire the teachers of morality: they discourse like angels, but they live like men.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“Age looks with anger on the temerity of youth, and youth with contempt on the scrupulosity of age.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“Marriage has many pains, but celibacy has no pleasures.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“The first years of man must make provision for the last. He that never thinks, never can be wise.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“Man surely has some latent sense for which this place affords no gratification; or he has some desire distinct from sense, which must be satisfied before he can be happy.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“Few things are impossible to diligence and skill.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“Nothing is more idle than to inquire after happiness which Nature has kindly placed within our reach.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“The life of a solitary man will be certainly miserable, but not certainly devout.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“Happiness . . . must be something solid and permanent, without fear and without uncertainty.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“Many things difficult to design prove easy to performance.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“However, some desire is necessary to keep life in motion; and he whose real wants are supplied must admit those of fancy.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“is there such depravity in man as that he should injure another without benefit to himself?” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“Truth, such as is necessary to the regulation of life, is always found where it is honestly sought.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“The truth is that no mind is much employed upon the present; recollection and anticipation fill up almost all our moments.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“No man can taste the fruits of autumn while he is delighting his scent with the flowers of the spring” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“I live in the crowds of jollity, not so much to enjoy company as to shun myself, and am only loud and merry to conceal my sadness.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“Long customs are not easily broken; he that attempts to change the course of his own life very often labours in vain, and how shall we do that for others which we are seldom able to do for ourselves?” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“Of the uncertainties of our present state, the most dreadful and alarming is the uncertain continuance of reason.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
“To talk in public, to think in solitude, to read and to hear, to inquire and answer inquiries, is the business of a scholar.” Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia

Related topics

evil happiness desire age strength work joy uncertainty integrity knowledge morality anger life learning marriage ignorance good fear truth power

Related sources

The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia (26)