Samuel Johnson's Witty Quotes and 18th Century Wisdom
Samuel Johnson, a prominent 18th-century literary figure, lived from 1709 to 1784 and was renowned for his sharp wit and deep insights into human nature. His friend James Boswell meticulously documented his thoughts in "The Life of Samuel Johnson." On December 20, 1777, Johnson noted that discontent with London might signify a broader discontent with life itself. He humorously categorized drinks, famously saying, "Claret is for boys, port for men," while urging heroes to opt for brandy. His marriage to Elizabeth Jervis in 1735 influenced his reflections on love, which he saw as paradoxical in wisdom and folly.
Key facts
- Samuel Johnson lived 1709-1784 through four British monarchs.
- James Boswell recorded Johnson's sayings in 'The Life of Samuel Johnson'.
- Quote 'When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life' spoken Dec 20, 1777.
- Johnson married Elizabeth Jervis (Tetty) in 1735; she died at age 63.
- He wrote 'Rasselas' in one week in 1759 to pay for his mother's funeral.
- Quote 'Curiosity is... the first passion and the last' from The Rambler, Aug 1751.
- 'Hell is paved with good intentions' said April 14, 1775.
- Johnson was arrested for debt twice and lived much of his life in poverty.
Entities
Artists
- Samuel Johnson
- James Boswell
- Joshua Reynolds
- John Hawkins
- Anna Seward
- Elizabeth Montagu
- Hannah More
- Horace Walpole
- Walter Besant
- William Dunbar
- Francesco Hayez
- Jan van Mieris
- Wilhelm Amberg
- Louis Moe
- Juan Sanchez Cotan
- Édouard Manet
- Joseph Farrington
- Maria Verelst
- Elizabeth Jervis
- Henry Porter
- Lucy Porter
- Jervis Henry Porter
- Joseph Porter
- Hester Thrale
- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
- Charlemagne
Institutions
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- The Rambler
- The National Gallery, Washington
- Brera Pinacoteca
- Leiden Collection
- Kunsthaus Lempertz
- San Diego Art Museum
- My Norse Digital Image Repository
- Wikimedia Commons
Locations
- London
- England
- Britain
- Scotland
- China