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61 " Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks. "
― Samuel Johnson ,
62 " 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. "
― Samuel Johnson
63 " There is no matter what children should learn first, any more than what leg you should put into your breeches first. Sir, you may stand disputing which is best to put in first, but in the meantime your backside is bare. Sire, while you stand considering which of two things you should teach your child first, another boy has learn't 'em both. "
64 " Imitations produce pain or pleasure, not because they are mistaken for realities, but because they bring realities to mind. "
― Samuel Johnson , Samuel Johnson on Shakespeare
65 " The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting to myrtles and to roses; filling the eye with awful pomp, and gratifying the mind with endless diversity. "
66 " Shakespeare opens a mine which contains gold and diamonds in unexhaustible plenty, though clouded by incrustations, debased by impurities, and mingled with a mass of meaner minerales. "
67 " Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. "
68 " A man sometimes starts up a patriot, only by disseminating discontent, and propagating reports of secret influence, of dangerous counsels, of violated rights, and encroaching usurpation. This practice is no certain note of patriotism. To instigate the populace with rage beyond the provocation, is to suspend public happiness, if not to destroy it. He is no lover of his country, that unnecessarily disturbs its peace. "
69 " To keep your secret is wisdom, but to expect others to keep it is folly. "
70 " A wise man will make haste to forgive, because he knows the true value of time, and will not suffer it to pass away in unnecessary pain. "
71 " The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken. "
72 " Nothing is more hopeless than a scheme of merriment. "
73 " No man is a hypocrite in his pleasures. "
74 " Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those whom we cannot resemble. "
― Samuel Johnson , The Rambler
75 " The love of life is necessary to the vigorous prosecution of any undertaking. "
76 " It is better to live rich than to die rich. "
77 " Men more frequently require to be reminded than informed. "
78 " The vanity of being known to be trusted with a secret is generally one of the chief motives to disclose it; for, however absurd it may be thought to boast an honour by an act which shows that it was conferred without merit, yet most men seem rather inclined to confess the want of virtue than of importance. "
79 " Truth will not afford sufficient food to their vanity; so they have betaken, themselves to errour. Truth, Sir, is a cow which will yield such people no more milk, and so they are gone to milk the bull. "
― Samuel Johnson , Life and Conversations of Dr. Samuel Johnson: (Founded Chiefly Upon Boswell).
80 " Love is the wisdom of the fool and the folly of the wise. "