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.
It is wonderful that five thousand years have now elapsed since the creation of the world, and still it is undecided whether or not there has ever been an instance of the spirit of any person appearing after death. All argument is against it; but all belief is for it.
I am now to offer some thoughts upon that sameness or familiarity which we frequently find between passages in different authors without quotation. This may be one of three things either what is called Plagiarism, or Imitation, or Coincidence.
One must be strict even in little things.
In every place, where there is any thing worthy of observation, there should be a short printed directory for strangers.
When we know exactly all a man’s views and how he comes to speak and act so and so, we lose any respect for him, though we may love and admire him.
If a man is prodigal, he cannot be truly generous.