"It is better that some should be unhappy rather than that none should be happy, which would be the case in a general state of equality."

Happiness

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Insight & Reflection

The theme of happiness is universal, yet Samuel Johnson manages to capture its essence in a uniquely profound way. Taking a moment to internalize this can shift our mindset, reminding us that our perspective on happiness often shapes our reality.

About Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson, often called Dr Johnson, was an English writer and polymath who made lasting contributions as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, literary critic, sermonist, biographer, editor, and lexicographer. The work for which he is best known is his 42,733-entry Dictionary of the English Language (1755). For this and other contributions in and to the English language, the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography has called him "arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history".

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Editorial Note: This quote is curated and fact-checked by the Quotes Archive Editorial Team. Verified Literature Specialist.

More by Samuel Johnson

"He who understands his own mind is never bewildered by the complexities of the world. A lesson woven into the fabric of human history — an essential principle for the reflective life."

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"Let thoughts come and go like clouds across an undisturbed autumn sky. For where clarity resides, peace inevitably follows — an essential principle for the reflective life."

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More about Happiness

"Encouragement to others is something everyone can give. Somebody needs what you have to give. It may not be your money; it may be your time. It may be your listening ear. It may be your arms to encourage. It may be your smile to uplift. Who knows?"

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