Samuel Johnson

Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.

Such is the state of life, that none are happy but by the anticipation of change: the change itself is nothing; when we have made it, the next wish is to change again.

Nature has given women so much power that the law has very wisely given them little.

I have always considered it as treason against the great republic of human nature, to make any man's virtues the means of deceiving him.

It is dangerous for mortal beauty, or terrestrial virtue, to be examined by too strong a light. The torch of Truth shows much that we cannot, and all that we would not, see.

Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.

Between falsehood and useless truth there is little difference. As gold which he cannot spend will make no man rich, so knowledge which cannot apply will make no man wise.

Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it.

Leisure and curiosity might soon make great advances in useful knowledge, were they not diverted by minute emulation and laborious trifles.

To strive with difficulties, and to conquer them, is the highest human felicity.

Everything that enlarges the sphere of human powers, that shows man he can do what he thought he could not do, is valuable.

There are few things that we so unwillingly give up, even in advanced age, as the supposition that we still have the power of ingratiating ourselves with the fair sex.