Courage is the first of all the virtues because if you haven’t courage, you may not have the opportunity to use any of the others.
Tag: Samuel Johnson
Truth through experience
In order that all men might be taught to speak truth, it is necessary that all likewise should learn to hear it.
Familiarity vs. knowledge
Among the innumerable mortifications which waylay human arrogance on every side may well be reckoned our ignorance of the most common objects and effects, a defect of which we become more sensible by every attempt to supply it. Vulgar and inactive minds confound familiarity with knowledge and conceive themselves informed of the whole nature of things when they are shown their form or told their use; but the speculatist, who is not content with superficial views, harasses himself with fruitless curiosity, and still, as he inquires more, perceives only that he knows less.
Conscience vs rights
In questions of law or of fact conscience is very often confounded with opinion. No man’s conscience can tell him the rights of another man; they must be known by rational investigation or historical inquiry.
True character
The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.