Samuel Johnson
English poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, lexicographer
(1709-1784)
"Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance."
"A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other."
"A man is very apt to complain of the ingratitude of those who have risen far above him."
"Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then."
"Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous mind."
"He who makes a beast of himself, gets rid of the pain of being a man."