Quotes from Samuel Johnson

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing - it only hastens fools to rush in where angels fear to tread.

Fear naturally quickens the flight of guilt.

Some desire is necessary to keep life in motion.

Life cannot subsist in society but by reciprocal concessions.

To improve the golden moment of opportunity, and catch the good that is within our reach, is the great art of life.

Moral sentences appear ostentatious and tumid, when they have no greater occasions than the journey of a wit to his home town: yet such pleasures and such pains make up the general mass of life; and as nothing is little to him that feels it with gre

Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one step of success to another, forming new wishes and seeing them gratified.

He that is already corrupt is naturally suspicious; and he that becomes suspicious will quickly become corrupt.

Cucumber should be well sliced, dressed with pepper and vinegar, and then thrown out.

He who does not mind his belly, will hardly mind anything else.

Any of us would kill a cow rather than not have beef.

Everybody loves to have things which please the palate put in their way, without trouble or preparation.

Oats. A grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people.

Hunger is never delicate.

Luncheon: as much food as one's hand can hold.

He that accepts protection, stipulates obedience.

Your aspirations are your possibilities.

Officious, innocent, sincere, Of every friendless name the friend.

No one is much pleased with a companion who does not increase, in some respect, their fondness for themselves.

The friendship which is to be practised or expected by common mortals, must take its rise from mutual pleasure, and must end when the power ceases of delighting each other.

It is foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend as upon the chastity of a wife.

The feeling of friendship is like that of being comfortably filled with roast beef.

No man is much pleased with a companion who does not increase in some respect his fondness of himself.

Men only become friends by community of pleasures.