“It has been observed in all ages that the advantages of nature or of fortune have contributed very little to the promotion of happiness; and that those whom the splendour of their rank, or the extent of their capacity, have placed upon the summits of human life, have not often given any just occasion to envy in those who look up to them from a lower station; whether it be that apparent superiority incites great designs, and great designs are naturally liable to fatal miscarriages; or that the general lot of mankind is misery, and the misfortunes of those whose eminence drew upon them an universal attention, have been more carefully recorded, because they were more generally observed, and have in reality only been more conspicuous than others, not more frequent, or more severe.”

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About Samuel Johnson

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.

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"It has been observed in all ages that the advantages of nature or of…" — Samuel Johnson | Daily Quotes