Samuel johnson quotes about life and efforts

But thou, too old to hear another samuel johnson quotes about life and efforts, Learn, that the present hour alone is man's. Little would be wanting to the happiness of life, if every man could conform to the right as soon as he was shown it. Life is surely given us for higher purposes than to gather what our ancestors have wisely thrown away, and to learn what is of no value but because it has been forgotten.

Whoever shall review his life, will find that the whole tenor of his conduct has been determined by some accident of no apparent moment. I am not able to instruct you. I can only tell that I have chosen wrong. I have passed my time in study without experience; in the attainment of sciences which can, for the most part, be but remotely useful to mankind.

I have purchased knowledge at the expense of all the common comforts of life: I have missed the endearing elegance of female friendship, and the happy commerce of domestic tenderness. Quote of the day I would say act like a man of thought and think like a man of action. Samuel Johnson Creative Commons. Featured Authors. Predictions that didn't happen.

If it's on the Internet it must be true. Picture Quotes. Philip James Bailey. On that which has cost him much labour he sets a high value, because he is unwilling to think that he has been diligent in vain: what has been produced without toilsome efforts is considered with delight as a proof of vigorous faculties and fertile invention; and the last work, whatever it be, has necessarily most of the grace of novelty.

To write is, indeed, no unpleasing employment, when one sentiment readily produces another, and both ideas and expressions present themselves at the first summons; but such happiness, the greatest genius does not always obtain; and common writers know it only to such a degree, as to credit its possibility. Composition is, for the most part, an effort of slow diligence and steady perseverance, to which the mind is dragged by necessity or resolution, and from which the attention is every moment starting to more delightful amusements.

He that compares what he has done with what he has left undone, will feel the effect which must always follow the comparison of imagination with reality; he will look with contempt on his own unimportance, and wonder to what purpose he came into the world; he will repine that he shall leave behind him no evidence of his having been, that he has added nothing to the system of life, but has glided from youth to age among the crowd, without any effort for distinction.

Every day we present the best quotes! Improve yourself, find your inspiration, share with friends. Login Sign Up. Samuel Johnson. ChangePositiveAttitude. Samuel Johnson PerseveranceWritingEffort. SuccessDanceLife And Love. InspirationalBookWriting. Quoted in William Seward, Biographia EffortExcitedIndustry. DistanceHandsEffort. Art Memories Attention.

He that would be superior to external influences must first become superior to his own passions. Wisdom Passion Intelligence. There lurks, perhaps, in every human heart a desire of distinction, which inclines every man first to hope, and then to believe, that Nature has given him something peculiar to himself. Being Yourself Being Single Believe.

Our aspirations are our possibilities. Dream Possibility Aspiration. Of all noises, I think music is the least disagreeable. Music Thinking Noise. The vicious count their years; virtuous, their acts. Years Charity Vicious. When once the forms of civility are violated, there remains little hope of return to kindness or decency. Kindness Littles Return.

He that would travel for the entertainment of others, should remember that the great object of remark is human life. Every nation has something peculiar in its manufactures, its works of genius, its medicines, its agriculture, its customs, and its policy. He only is a useful traveller, who brings home something by which his country might be benefitted; who procures some supply of want, or some mitigation of evil, which may enable his readers to compare their condition with that of others, to improve it whenever it is worse, and whenever it is better to enjoy it.

Country Home Medicine. It is the just doom of laziness and gluttony to be inactive without ease and drowsy without tranquility. Sloth Laziness Ease. No people can be great who have ceased to be virtuous. People Liberty Virtue. Great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance. Those that walk with vigor, three hours a day, will pass in seven years a space equal to the circumference of the globe.

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

Samuel johnson quotes about life and efforts

Diversity Joy Life Is. Don't think of retiring from the world until the world will be sorry that you retire. I hate a fellow whom pride or cowardice or laziness drive into a corner, and who does nothing when he is there but sit and growl. Let him come out as I do, and bark. Sorry Hate Philosophical. Nature never gives everything at once. Abuse is often of service.

There is nothing so dangerous to an author as silence. Writing Silence Abuse. It is advantageous to an author that his book should be attacked as well as praised. Fame is a shuttlecock. If it be struck at one end of the room, it will soon fall to the ground. To keep it up, it must be struck at both ends. Book Fall Writing. Wine gives great pleasure; and every pleasure is of itself a good.

It is a good, unless counterbalanced by evil. Wine Evil Giving. Deviation from Nature is deviation from happiness. Climate Change Deviation. The Irish are a fair people: They never speak well of one another. People Speak Wells. Grief is a species of idleness. Grief Species Idleness. Each person's work is always a portrait of himself. Success Portraits Persons.

I am always sorry when any language is lost, because languages are the pedigrees of nations. Sorry Communication Language. He that embarks on the voyage of life will always wish to advance rather by the impulse of the wind than the strokes of the oar; and many fold in their passage; while they lie waiting for the gale. Life Lying Wind. The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality.

Travel Reality Imagination. Shame arises from the fear of men, conscience from the fear of God. The wise man applauds he who he thinks most virtuous; the rest of the world applauds the wealthy. The future is purchased by the present. A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other. What is easy is seldom excellent.

A decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization. Sir, I have found you an argument; but I am not obliged to find you an understanding. It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives. Curiosity is one of the most permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect. It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust.

Bachelors have consciences, married men have wives. Every day we present the best quotes! Improve yourself, find your inspiration, share with friends. Login Sign Up. Samuel Johnson Quotes Quotes about: facebook twitter googleplus. Samuel Johnson. WisdomKnowledgeKnowing. SufferingPeculiarProvidence. Samuel Johnson HopeAnticipationConditions.

The Rambler No. Samuel Johnson, William Page MenDelayFaults. PrejudiceFactsOpinion. ExaminationFraudDread.