“I know not why any one but a schoolboy in his declamation should whine over the Commonwealth of Rome, which grew great only by the misery of the rest of mankind. The Romans, like others, as soon as they grew rich, grew corrupt; and in their corruption sold the lives and freedoms of themselves, and of one another.”

English lexicographer and literary figure of the 18th century, Samuel Johnson is best known for compiling the first authoritative English dictionary, *A Dictionary of the English Language*, published in 1755. His sharp wit, profound observations on human nature, and extensive writings—including *Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia* and *The Idler* essays—established him as a defining voice of the Age of Enlightenment.