Though Samuel Johnson did not make a collection of maxims in the manner of La Rochefoucauld or Madame de Sablé, his writings provide a number of concise, thoughtful observations about human nature and human conduct that lend themselves to maxim-like formulation. Here are some of those “maxims,” for which I have provided a themes word or phrase to identify the subject.
This collection brings together quotations taken from Johnson’s 208 Rambler essays, which were published twice weekly (on Tuesdays and Saturdays) from 1750-1752.
The First Rambler Essay
The first issue of The Rambler, published on March 20, 1750, takes as its subject the prospects of introducing a new work to the reading public.
Johnson hopes that his Rambler might at least produce some “entertainment” for his reader; but the nature of such entertainments, like the satires of Juvenal, will be serious and critical of the means and motives employed by the human race “fearing evil and desiring good.”
Johnson asserts that one of the chief virtues of his twice-weekly ventures is that they are brief, and will not tire the attention so often produced by more lengthy treatises. But he also affirms that his Rambler will not trifle with such matters produced by journalists (“the ostentatious and haughty display of themselves … of diurnal writers”). And finally, Johnson affirms that if he cannot capture the regard of the public, he can simply cease writing The Rambler and “retire to amusements of greater pleasure, or to studies of better prospect.”
Intrepidity
It may, indeed, be no less dangerous to claim, on certain occasions, too little than too much. There is something captivating in spirit and intrepidity, to which we often yield, as to a resistless power; nor can he reasonably expect the confidence of others, who too apparently distrusts himself.
Strategy of Love
In love …, it has been held a maxim, that success is most easily obtained by indirect and unperceived approaches; he who too soon professes himself a lover, raises obstacles to his own wishes, and those whom disappointments have taught experience, endeavour to conceal their passion till they believe their mistress wishes for the discovery.
ChatGPT 3.5 Rephrase: In matters of love, a widely accepted principle suggests that the best way to achieve success is through subtle and discreet approaches. Those who openly declare their love too early may unintentionally create barriers to their own desires. Those who have learned from past disappointments try to keep their affection hidden until they sense that their beloved desires its revelation.
Rambler #2
The Rewards of Labor
He that directs his steps to a certain point, must frequently turn his eyes to that place which he strives to reach; he that undergoes the fatigue of labour, must solace his weariness with the contemplation of its reward.
(“The best rewards are the enduring lessons learned from the fatigue of labour.” — Arthur Chandler)
Censure
Censure is willingly indulged, because it always implies some superiority.
ChatGPT 3.5 Rephrase: Censure is often embraced because it inherently suggests a certain level of superiority.
Hope
The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope.
ChatGPT 3.5 Rephrase: The inherent journeys of the human mind do not traverse from one pleasure to another, but rather from one hope to the next.
Proof of delicacy
The ignorant always imagine themselves giving some proof of delicacy, when they refuse to be pleased.
ChatGPT 3.5 Rephrase: Those lacking knowledge often convince themselves that they exhibit a form of refinement when they choose not to find pleasure.
Receiving Advice
Men must not only be persuaded of their errors, but reconciled to their guide; they must not only confess their ignorance, but, what is still less pleasing, must allow that he from whom they are to learn is more knowing than themselves.
Rambler #3
Covetousness
When a man finds himself led, though by a train of honest sentiments, to wish for that to which he has no right, he should start back as from a pitfall covered with flowers.
(Rambler #8)
Complaints of old people
Every old man complains of the growing depravity of the world.
(Rambler #50)
Frugality
It appears evident that frugality is necessary even to complete the pleasure of expense.
(Rambler #53)
Beneficence
The great end of society is mutual beneficence.
(Rambler #56)
Mutual Pleasure
It is well known that the most certain way to give any man pleasure, is to persuade him that you receive pleasure from him, to encourage him to freedom and confidence, and to avoid any such appearance of superiority as may overbear and depress him.
(Rambler #72)
Fraud Detection
It is the business of moralists to detect the frauds of fortune.
(Rambler #58)
Common Feelings
We are all prompted by the same motives, all deceived by the same fallacies, all animated by hope, obstructed by danger, entangled by desire, and seduced by pleasure.
(Rambler #60)
Use and Value
In the esteem of uncorrupted reason, what is of most use is of most value.
(Rambler #60)
Self-love
No one exerts the power of discernment with much vigour when self-love favours the deceit.
(Rambler #75)
Thought and Action
No man has power of acting equal to that of thinking.
(Rambler #77)
Practice and Opinion
Upon practice, not upon opinion, depends the happiness of mankind.
(Rambler #81)
Ungrateful Advice
Advice, as it always gives a temporary appearance of superiority, can never be very grateful, even when it is most necessary or most judicious.
(Rambler #87)
Missing the Goal
In the journey of life some are left behind, because they are naturally feeble and slow; some because they miss the way, and many because they leave it by choice, and instead of pressing onward with a steady pace, delight themselves with momentary deviations, turn aside to pluck every flower, and repose in every shade.
(Rambler #89)
Libraries and Hope
No place affords a more striking conviction of the vanity of human hopes, than a public library.
(Rambler #106)
Necessary to Caution
Without hope there can be no caution.
(Rambler #119)
Use of Fear
Fear is implanted in us as a preservative from evil; but its duty, like that of other passions, is not to overbear reason, but to assist it.
(Rambler #126)
Fear and Calamity
As hope enlarges happiness, fear aggravates calamity.
(Rambler #29)
Ease
Men are generally willing to hear precepts by which ease is favored.
(Rambler #129)
Everyone’s Duty
It is the duty of every man to endeavour that something may be added by his industry to the hereditary aggregate of knowledge and happiness.
(Rambler #129)
Expectation of Evils
When evils cannot be avoided, it is wise to contract the interval of expectation.
(Rambler #134)
Perfection
He that has abilities to conceive perfection, will not easily be content without it; and since perfection cannot be reached, will lose the opportunity of doing well in the vain hope of unattainable excellence.
(Rambler #134)
Related thought:: “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good,” taken from an Italian proverb: "Le meglio è l'inimico del bene"]
Praise and Merit
To encourage merit with praise is the great business of literature.
(Rambler #134)
Rich or Poor
Every man is rich or poor, according to the proportion between his desires and enjoyments; any enlargement of wishes is therefore equally destructive to happiness with the diminution of possession; and he that teaches another to long for what he never shall obtain, is no less an enemy to his quiet, than if he had robbed him of part of his patrimony.
(Rambler #163)
Habitual Vice
Nor can I think any man more worthy of veneration and renown, than those who have burst the shackles of habitual vice.
(Rambler #155)
The Misery of Want
We seldom value rightly what we have never known the misery of wanting.
(Rambler #157)
Opposition and Malevolence
To excite opposition, and inflame malevolence, is the unhappy privilege of courage made arrogant by consciousness of strength.
(Rambler #159)
Agreeable Trifles
To trifle agreeably is a secret which schools cannot impart.
(Rambler #173)
Sincerity and Flattery
He that can do much good or harm will not find many whom ambition or cowardice will suffer to be sincere. While we live upon the level with the rest of mankind, we are reminded of our duty by the admonitions of friends and reproaches of enemies; but men who stand in the highest ranks of society seldom hear of their faults; if by any accident an opprobrious clamour reaches their ears, flattery is always at hand to pour in her opiates.
(Rambler #172)
Dangerous Companions
No man is more dangerous than he that with a will to corrupt, hath the power to please.
(The Works of William Shakespeare: Comprising His Dramatic and Poetical Works, comment on Falstaff in Henry IV, part two)
Golden Knowledge
As gold which he cannot spend will make no man rich, so knowledge which he cannot apply will make no man wise.
(The Idler #84)
True Test of Civilization
A decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization.
(In James Boswell’s The Life of Samuel Johnson)
Artificial Fastidiousness
Little does the critic think... how many honest minds he debars from pleasure, by exciting an artificial fastidiousness, and making them too wise to concur with their own sensations.
(Rambler #3)
Ease and Diligence
What we hope ever to do with ease, we must first learn to do with diligence.
(In James Boswell’s The Life of Samuel Johnson)
Pleasure/Placer
Men seldom give pleasure, where they are not pleased themselves.
(Rambler #74)
Flowers and Fruit/Flores y Frutas
A blighted spring makes a barren year, and that the vernal flowers, however beautiful and gay, are only intended by nature aspreparatives to autumnal fruits.
(Rambler #5)
Fire in the Flint/Fuego en la Sílex
Genius, whatever it is, is like a fire in the flint, only to be produced by collision with a proper subject.
(Rambler #25)
[In contact, lo! the flint and steel,
By sharp and flame, the thought reveal
That he the metal, she the stone,
Had cherished secretly alone.
— Ambrose Bierce]
Honor and Disgrace/Honor y Deshonra
No man can justly aspire to honour, but at the hazard of disgrace.
(Rambler #93)
Intervals of Pleasure/Intervalos de Placer
Long intervals of pleasure dissipate attention, and weaken constancy; nor is it easy for him that has sunk from diligence into sloth to rouse out of his lethargy, to recollect his notions, rekindle his curiosity, and engage with his former ardour in the toils of study.
(Rambler #111)
