Samuel Johnson Quotes about Greatness

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The first step to greatness is to be honest.

The first step to greatness is to be honest.

Samuel Johnson

Greatness, Firsts, Steps

Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1825). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: Reviews, political tracts, and Lives of eminent persons”, p.311

The superiority of some men is merely local. They are great because their associates are little.

Samuel Johnson

Greatness, Men, Littles

Samuel Johnson (1782). “The Beauties of Johnson: Consisting of Maxims and Observations, Moral, Critical, and Miscellaneous”, p.231

No one ever became great by imitation.

Samuel Johnson

Greatness, Imitation

He was dull in a new way, and that made many think him great.

Samuel Johnson

Greatness, Thinking, Dull

Quoted in James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) (entry for 28 Mar. 1775)

It is not possible to be regarded with tenderness, except by a few. That merit which gives greatness and renown diffuses its influence to a wide compass, but acts weakly on every single breast; it is placed at a distance from common spectators, and shines like one of the remote stars, of which the light reaches us, but not the heat.

Samuel Johnson

Stars, Distance, Greatness

Samuel Johnson, Peter Martin (2009). “Samuel Johnson: Selected Writings”, p.217, Harvard University Press

The business of the biographer is often to pass slightly over those performances and incidents which produce vulgar greatness, to lead the thoughts into domestic privacies, and display the minute details of daily life, were exterior appendages are cast aside, and men excel each other only by prudence and virtue.

Samuel Johnson

Greatness, Men, Details

Samuel Johnson (1840). “The Life and Writings of Samuel Johnson...”, p.260

It is to be steadily inculcated, that virtue is the highest proof of understanding, and the only solid basis of greatness.

Samuel Johnson

Greatness, Understanding, Virtue

Samuel Johnson (1761). “The Rambler: In Four Volumes”, p.22

Those writers who lie on the watch for novelty can have little hope of greatness; for great things cannot have escaped former observation.

Samuel Johnson

Lying, Greatness, Watches

Samuel Johnson (1804). “The beauties of Samuel Johnson: maxims and observations. To which are now added, biographical anecdotes of the doctor, his life [&c.].”, p.103

As a madman is apt to think himself grown suddenly great, so he that grows suddenly great is apt to borrow a little from the madman.

Samuel Johnson

Greatness, Thinking, Littles

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1859). “The Life of Samuel Johnson”, p.96

That eminence of learning is not to be gained without labour, at least equal to that which any other kind of greatness can require, will be allowed by those who wish to elevate the character of a scholar; since they cannot but know that every human acquisition is valuable in proportion to the difficulty of its attainment.

Samuel Johnson

Character, Greatness, Effort

Samuel Johnson (1810). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With An Essay on His Life and Genius”, p.139