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Samuel Johnson Quotes about Language

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Languages are the pedigree of nations.

Languages are the pedigree of nations.

Samuel Johnson
Language, Pedigree, Nations
In James Boswell 'Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides' (1785) 18 September 1773

Every quotation contributes something to the stability or enlargement of language.

Samuel Johnson
Enlargement, Language, Stability
'A Dictionary of the English Language' (1755) preface (on citations of usage in a dictionary)

Poetry cannot be translated; and, therefore, it is the poets that preserve the languages; for we would not be at the trouble to learn a language if we could have all that is written in it just as well in a translation. But as the beauties of poetry cannot be preserved in any language except that in which it was originally written, we learn the language.

Samuel Johnson
Language, Trouble, Poet
James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1859). “The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: Including a Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides”, p.62

Unintelligible language is a lantern without a light.

Samuel Johnson
Light, Language, Lanterns

Language is only the instrument of science, and words are but the signs of ideas.

Samuel Johnson
Science, Ideas, Language
'A Dictionary of the English Language' (1755) preface.

An Englishman is content to say nothing when he has nothing to say.

Samuel Johnson
Language, English Language, Englishmen
In James Boswell 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' (1791) vol. 4, p. 15 (1780) Sir, your wife, under pretence of keeping a bawdy-house, is a receiver of stolen goods. During an exchange of coarse raillery customary among people travelling upon the Thames, in James Boswell 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' (1791) vol. 4, p. 26 (1780)

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