Samuel Johnson

Poetry is the art of uniting pleasure with truth.

Poetry is the art of uniting pleasure with truth.

For a man seldom thinks with more earnestness of anything than he
does of his dinner.

For a man seldom thinks with more earnestness of anything than he
does of his dinner.

Conjecture as to things useful, is good; but conjecture as to what it would be useless to know, is very read more

Conjecture as to things useful, is good; but conjecture as to what it would be useless to know, is very idle.

Feast of Lucy, Martyr at Syracuse, 304 Commemoration of Samuel Johnson, Writer, Moralist, 1784 We took tea, by read more

Feast of Lucy, Martyr at Syracuse, 304 Commemoration of Samuel Johnson, Writer, Moralist, 1784 We took tea, by Boswell's desire; and I eat one bun, I think, that I might not be seen to fast ostentatiously. When I find that so much of my life has stolen unprofitably away, and that I can descry by retrospection scarcely a few single days properly and vigorously employed, why do I yet try to resolve again? I try, because reformation is necessary and despair is criminal. I try, in humble hope of the help of God.

The noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees is the high-road
that leads him to England.

The noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees is the high-road
that leads him to England.