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

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

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

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