Samuel Johnson Quotes about Genius

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Curiosity is one of the most permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.

Curiosity is one of the most permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.

Samuel Johnson

Education, Curiosity, Genius

The Rambler, No. 103, March 12, 1751.

Remember that nothing will supply the want of prudence, and that negligence and irregularity long continued will make knowledge useless, wit ridiculous, and genius contemptible.

Samuel Johnson

Long, Genius, Useless

Genius now and then produces a lucky trifle. We still read the Dove of Anacreon, and Sparrow of Catullus; and a writer naturally pleases himself with a performance which owes nothing to the subject.

Samuel Johnson

Lucky, Genius, Sparrows

Samuel Johnson (1803). “The Lives of the Most Prominent English Poets: With Critical Observations on Their Works”, p.175

The mental disease of the present generation is impatience of study, contempt of the great masters of ancient wisdom, and a disposition to rely wholly upon unassisted genius and natural sagacity.

Samuel Johnson

Patience, Generations, Genius

Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1837). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: With an Essay on His Life and Genius /c by Arthur Murphy, Esq”, p.237

No estimate is more in danger of erroneous calculations than those by which a man computes the force of his own genius.

Samuel Johnson

Men, Genius, Danger

Samuel Johnson (1824). “Works: With an Essay on His Life and Genius”, p.83

Genius, that power which constitutes a poet; that quality without which judgment is cold, and knowledge is inert; that energy which collects, combines, amplifies and animates.

Samuel Johnson

Quality, Energy, Genius

Samuel Johnson, Peter Cunningham, Thomas Babington Macaulay Baron Macaulay (1861). “Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets”, p.322

It is good sense applied with diligence to what was at first a mere accident, and which by great application grew to be called, by the generality of mankind, a particular genius.

Samuel Johnson

Genius, Firsts, Diligence

Samuel Johnson (1836). “Johnsoniana; or supplement to Boswell; being Anecdotes and sayings of Dr. Johnson, etc”, p.197

A man of genius has been seldom ruined but by himself.

Samuel Johnson

Men, Genius, Ruined

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1786). “Boswell's Life of Johnson: Including Boswell's Journal of a Tour of the Hebrides, and Johnson's Diary of A Journey Into North Wales”, p.313