A Quote by Samuel Johnson

No people can be great who have ceased to be virtuous.

Samuel Johnson

Quote Topics

Great People Virtuous

Quote Author

Samuel Johnson
English - Writer
September 18, 1709 - December 13, 1784

The truth is . . . that the great artists of the world are never puritans, and seldom ever ordinarily respectable. No virtuous man - that is, virtuous in the YMCA sense - has ever painted a picture worth looking at, or written a symphony worth hearing, or a book worth reading, and it is highly improbable that the thing has ever been done by a virtuous woman.

H. L. Mencken

People dream of making the virtuous powerful, so they can depend upon them. Since they cannot do that, people choose to make the powerful virtuous, glorifying in becoming victimized by them.

Thomas Szasz

He who has ceased to enjoy his friend's superiority has ceased to love him.

Sophie Swetchine

as a bird swoops down on it's prey, and assumes this land bound wretch into heaven, so did romeo steal her lips before they fled him again. suspended somewhere between cherubs and devils, his quarry ceased to buck, and he spread his wings wide and let the rising wind carry them off across the sky, until even the predator himself had lost every hope of returning home. within that one embrace, [he] became aware of a feeling of certainty he had not thought possible for anyone - even the virtuous. with her in his arms, all other women, past, present, and future, simply ceased to exist.

Anne Fortier

Americans, both politicians and voters, may have become corrupted by big government beyond redemption. A virtuous government requires a virtuous people. A frugal government requires a self-reliant people. A free country requires people who value liberty more than money.

Charley Reese

He who has ceased to learn has ceased to teach. He who no longer sows in the study will no more reap in the pulpit.

Steven J. Law

I have not ceased being fearful, but I have ceased to let fear control me.

Erica Jong

The man who has ceased to fear has ceased to care.

F. H. Bradley

A free, virtuous, and enlightened people must know full well the great principles and causes upon which their happiness depends.

James Monroe

If we can make America great again and if we can get everybody working and bettering their lot in life, then this becomes the great country that it once was, that it's ceased to be.

Robin Leach

Wicked people sometimes perform good actions. I suppose they wish to see if this gives as great a feeling of pleasure as the virtuous claim for it.

Nicolas Chamfort

It must not be supposed that happiness will demand many or great possessions; for self-sufficiency does not depend on excessive abundance, nor does moral conduct, and it is possible to perform noble deeds even without being ruler of land and sea: one can do virtuous acts with quite moderate resources. This may be clearly observed in experience: private citizens do not seem to be less but more given to doing virtuous actions than princes and potentates. It is sufficient then if moderate resources are forthcoming; for a life of virtuous activity will be essentially a happy life.