Samuel Johnson (1709 – 1784) was an English critic, biographer, essayist, poet, lexicographer, playwright, and editor. Despite ill health and periodic financial difficulties, Johnson was a supportive friend to others in their time of need. He was first hired as a writer in 1737 for The Gentleman’s Magazine in London. He later wrote numerous short essays and fiction works under the names of The Rambler and The Idler. The first work published under his own name was the poem The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749). Johnson’s famous A Dictionary of the English Language (1755) was a major scholarly achievement, known for its detail, complexity, and use of quotations to illustrate definitions.

Quotes by Samuel Johnson…