Quotes by Lexicographers

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
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.
Samuel Johnson
Men more frequently require to be reminded than informed.
Samuel Johnson
Much may be made of a Scotchman if he be caught young.
Samuel Johnson
Your manuscript is both good and original but the parts that are good are not original and the parts that are original are not good.
Samuel Johnson
It is better to suffer wrong than to do it and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust.
Samuel Johnson
What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.
Samuel Johnson
When an author is yet living we estimate his powers by his worst performance and when he is dead we rate them by his best.
Samuel Johnson
The man who is asked by an author what he thinks of his work is put to the torture and is not obliged to speak the truth.
Samuel Johnson
Read over your compositions and when you meet a passage which you think is particularly fine strike it out.
Samuel Johnson
The best part of every author is in general to be found in his book I assure you.
Samuel Johnson
Every other author may aspire to praise the lexicographer can only hope to escape reproach.
Samuel Johnson
When speculation has done its worst two and two still make four.
Samuel Johnson
I am not yet so lost in lexicography as to forget that words are the daughters of earth and that things are the sons of heaven.
Samuel Johnson
Men know that women are an overmatch for them and therefore they choose the weakest or the most ignorant. If they did not think so they never could be afraid of women knowing as much as themselves.
Samuel Johnson
Claret is the liquor for boys port for men but he who aspires to be a hero must drink brandy.
Samuel Johnson
Alas! another instance of the triumph of hope over experience.
Samuel Johnson
When two Englishmen meet their first talk is of the weather.
Samuel Johnson
Life is short. The sooner that a man begins to enjoy his wealth the better.
Samuel Johnson
It is better to live rich than to die rich.
Samuel Johnson
Every man has a right to utter what he thinks is truth and every other man has a right to knock him down for it.
Samuel Johnson
As the Spanish proverb says "He who would bring home the wealth of the Indies must carry the wealth of the Indies with him." So it is in traveling: a man must carry knowledge with him if he would bring home knowledge.
Samuel Johnson
As the Spanish proverb says 'He who would bring home the wealth of the Indies must carry the wealth of the Indies with him.' So it is with traveling. A man must carry knowledge with him if he would bring home knowledge.
Samuel Johnson
A man who both spends and saves money is the happiest man because he has both enjoyments.
Samuel Johnson
When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight it concentrates his mind wonderfully.
Samuel Johnson
Being in a ship is being in a jail with the chance of being drowned.
Samuel Johnson
Present opportunities are neglected and attainable good is slighted by minds busied in extensive ranges and intent upon future advantages.
Samuel Johnson
It seems to be the fate of man to seek all his consolations in futurity.
Samuel Johnson
The present time is seldom able to fill desire or imagination with immediate enjoyment and we are forced to supply its deficiencies by recollection or anticipation.
Samuel Johnson
No mind is much employed upon the present recollection and anticipation fill up almost all our moments.
Samuel Johnson
The future is purchased by the present.
Samuel Johnson
If the man who turnips cries Cry not when his father dies 'Tis proof that he had rather Have a turnip than his father.
Samuel Johnson
Our desires always increase with our possessions. The knowledge that something remains yet unenjoyed impairs our enjoyment of the good before us.
Samuel Johnson
Every man has a right to utter what he thinks truth and every other man has a right to knock him down for it.
Samuel Johnson
The poor and the busy have no leisure for sentimental sorrow.
Samuel Johnson
While grief is fresh every attempt to divert it only irritates.
Samuel Johnson
If a madman were to come into this room with a stick in his hand no doubt we should pity the state of his mind but our primary consideration would be to take care of ourselves. We should knock him down first and pity him afterwards.
Samuel Johnson
Silence propagates itself and the longer talk has been suspended the more difficult it is to find anything to say.
Samuel Johnson
Despair is criminal.
Samuel Johnson
When any fit of gloominess or perversion of mind lays hold upon you make it a rule not to publish it by complaints.
Samuel Johnson
To hear complaints is wearisome to the wretched and the happy alike.
Samuel Johnson
He that would be superior to external influences must first become superior to his own passions.
Samuel Johnson
Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.
Samuel Johnson
I live in the crowds of jollity not so much to enjoy company as to shun myself.
Samuel Johnson
Prudence keeps life safe but does not often make it happy.
Samuel Johnson
Praise the sea on shore remain.
John Florio
The trappings of a monarchy would set up an ordinary commonwealth.
Samuel Johnson
Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those whom we cannot resemble.
Samuel Johnson
Don't think of retiring from the world until the world will be sorry that you retire.
Samuel Johnson
To be of no Church is dangerous.
Samuel Johnson
Oats n.s. A grain which in England is generally given to horses but in Scotland supports the people.
Samuel Johnson
Questioning is not the mode of conversation among gentlemen.
Samuel Johnson
The first years of man must make provision for the last.
Samuel Johnson
Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties.
Samuel Johnson
Pride is seldom delicate: it will please itself with very mean advantages.
Samuel Johnson
Sir a woman preaching is like a dog's walking on his hind legs. It is not done well: but you are surprised to find it done at all.
Samuel Johnson
Power is always right weakness always wrong. Power is always insolent and despotic.
Noah Webster
In lapidary inscriptions a man is not upon oath.
Samuel Johnson
Clear your mind of "can't."
Samuel Johnson
Never speak of a man in his own presence. It is always indelicate and may be offensive .
Samuel Johnson