The quotations of

Samuel Johnson

English writer and lexicographer

1709–1784

99 quotes, most often on Clever Jabs, Writing and Knowledge. Part of the Writers collection.

Sir, a woman’s preaching is like a dog’s walking on his hinder legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all.
Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), Vol I (31 July 1763) p. 132. [Several editions have the variant “hind legs”.]
- Clever Jabs
- Women
A fly, Sir, may sting a stately horse and make him wince; but one is but an insect, and the other is a horse still.
Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), Vol I (1754), p. 72 (n. 4)
- Clever Jabs
That fellow seems to me to possess but one idea, and that is a wrong one.
Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), Vol II (1770) p. 181
- Clever Jabs
- Ideas
He is not only dull himself, but the cause of dullness in others.
Life of Johnson (Boswell) (1784)
- Clever Jabs
Sir, I have found you an argument; but I am not obliged to find you an understanding.
Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), Vol IV (June 1784) p. 545
- Clever Jabs
- Debate
OATS — A grain which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people.
A Dictionary of the English Language (1755)
- Clever Jabs
- Food
But if he does really think that there is no distinction between virtue and vice, why, Sir, when he leaves our houses let us count our spoons.
Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), Vol I (14 July 1763) p. 123
- Clever Jabs
- Virtue
Tom Birch is as brisk as a bee in conversation; but no sooner does he take a pen in his hand than it becomes a torpedo to him, and benumbs all his faculties.
Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), Vol I (1743)
- Clever Jabs
- Writing
Sherry is dull, naturally dull; but it must have taken him a great deal of pains to become what we now see him. Such an excess of stupidity, sir, is not in Nature.
Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), Vol I (28 July 1763) p. 128
- Clever Jabs
- Intelligence
Sir, you have but two topicks, yourself and me. I am sick of both.
Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), Vol III (May 1776) p. 313
- Clever Jabs
Worth seeing? yes; but not worth going to see.
Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), Vol III (12 October 1779)
- Clever Jabs
Truth, Sir, is a cow which will yield such people no more milk, and so they are gone to milk the bull.
In James Boswell, Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), entry for 21 July 1763
- Clever Jabs
- Truth & Lies

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