Samuel Johnson

Biography

(1709-1784)

Essays by Samuel Johnson

The Idler no. 1

Perhaps man is the only being that can properly be called idle, that does by others what he might do himself, or sacrifices duty or pleasure to the love of ease.

The Idler no. 3

Much mischief is done in the world with very little interest or design.

A journey on a stage coach

Every man deceives himself while he thinks he is deceiving others; and forgets that the time is at hand when every illusion shall cease, when fictitious excellence shall be torn away.

The Rambler No. 184

To close tedious deliberations with hasty resolves, and after long consultations with reason to refer the question to caprice, is by no means peculiar to the essayist.

Solitude not eligible

I know not whether those who thus ambitiously repeat the praises of solitude, have always considered, how much they depreciate mankind by declaring, that whatever is excellent or desirable is to be obtained by departing from them.
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