You may abuse a tragedy, though you cannot write one. You may scold a …

Samuel Johnson
884 citations
You may abuse a tragedy, though you cannot write one. You may scold a carpenter who has made you a bad table, though you cannot make a table. It is not your trade to make tables. ✨ On literary criticism, in James Boswell 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' (1791) vol. 1, p. 409 (25 June 1763)
Life
22

More Author Quotes

Politics are now nothing more than means of rising in the world. With this sole view do men engage in politics, and their whole conduct proceeds upon it. ✨ Samuel Johnson (1798). Dr. Johnson's Table … ▶
It is scarcely credible to what degree discernment may be dazzled by the mist of pride, and wisdom infatuated by the intoxication of flattery. ✨ Samuel Johnson (1848). The Wisdom of the Rambler, Adve … ▶
The happiest conversation is that of which nothing is distinctly remembered, but a general effect of pleasing impression. ✨ James Boswell, Samuel Johnson, Edmond Malone (1824). The Life of Samuel Joh … ▶
Allow children to be happy in their own way, for what better way will they find? ✨ Samuel Johnson (2002). A Johnson Sampler, Non Pareil Books
That there is something in advice very useful and salutary, seems to be equally confessed on all hands; since even those that reject it, allow for the most part that rejection to be wrong, but charge … ▶

You may abuse a tragedy, though you cannot write one. You may scold a carpenter who has made you a bad table, though you cannot make a table. It is not your trade to make tables. ✨ On literary criticism, in James Boswell 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' (1791) vol. 1, p. 409 (25 June 1763)

More Author Quotes

Most Cited Authors

The Best Quotes

Most Liked Authors

Curated Author Quotes