Friendship, “the wine of life,” should, like a well-stocked cellar, be continually renewed.
But the question is, whether the animals who endure such sufferings of various kinds for the service and entertainment of man, would accept existence upon the terms on which they have it.
In an orchard there should be enough to eat, enough to lay up, enough to be stolen, and enough to rot on the ground.
In every picture there should be shade as well as light.
The scent of Sloth tempts a smug man.
What a curious creature is man; with what a variety of powers and faculties is he endued; yet how easily is he disturbed and put out of order.
A woman’s preaching is like a dog’s walking on his hinter legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to see it done at all.
When a man is familiar with many people he must expect many disagreeable familiarizations.
A companion loves some agreeable qualities which a man may possess, but a friend loves the man himself.
A Sceptick therefore, who because he finds that Truths are not universally received, doubts of their existence, is just as foolish as a man who should try large shoes upon little feet, and little shoes upon large feet, and finding that they did not fit.
The man who stops making new friends eventually will have none.
We must take our friends as they are.
If venereal delight and the power of propagating the species were permitted only to the virtuous, it would make the world very good.
I suppose no person ever enjoyed with more relish the infusion of this fragrant leaf than did Johnson.
For my own part I think no innocent species of wit or pleasantry should be suppressed: and that a good pun may be admitted among the smaller excellencies of lively conversation.
What an insignificant life is this which I am now leading!
Dr Johnson said, the inscription should have been in Latin, as every thing intended to be universal and permanent, should be.
The connection between authors, printers, and booksellers must be kept up.
He had no settled plan of life, nor looked forward at all, but merely lived from day to day. Yet he read a great deal in a desultory manner, without any scheme of study, as chance threw books in his way, and inclination directed him through them.
Those who would extirpate evil from the world know little of human nature. As well might punch be palatable without souring as existence agreeable without care.