He that is already corrupt is naturally suspicious, and he that becomes suspicious will quickly become corrupt.
Interpretation
Corruption breeds suspicion, and suspicion can lead to further corruption.
This quote by Samuel Johnson highlights the interconnectedness of corruption and suspicion. It suggests that those who are already corrupt tend to view others with suspicion, as their own moral decay leads them to believe that others may also be untrustworthy. Conversely, a mind filled with suspicion can corrupt one's character, leading to an erosion of values and trust in others.
In practice
In a discussion on ethics, one might say, 'As Samuel Johnson observed, corruption often leads to suspicion.', emphasizing the importance of moral integrity.
To be of no church is dangerous. Religion, of which the rewards are distant, and which is animated only by faith and hope, will glide by degrees out of the mind unless it be invigorated and reimpressed by external ordinances, by stated calls to worship, and the salutary influence of example.
He that reads and grows no wiser seldom suspects his own deficiency, but complains of hard words and obscure sentences, and asks why books are written which cannot be understood.
To let friendship die away by negligence and silence is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of the weary pilgrimage.
Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.
When any anxiety or gloom of the mind takes hold of you, make it a rule not to publish it by complaining; but exert yourselves to hide it, and by endeavoring to hide it you drive it away.
A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other.
I agree today that a man has no business trying to tell women what their characteristics are, which ones are inborn, which are more admirable, which will be best utilized by what occupations.
What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god.
Freedom always deals with 'the possible'; this gives freedom its great flexibility, its fascination, and its dangers.
It is difficult to be sat on all day, every day, by some other creature, without forming an opinion on them. On the other hand, it is perfectly possible to sit all day, every day, on top of another creature and not have the slightest thought about them whatsoever.
Are not half our lives spent in reproaches for foregone actions, of the true nature and consequences of which we were wholly ignorant at the time?
The big message of gospel is that you don't have to keep fighting the universe; you can stop, and the universe is quite good to you. There is a loss of ego.
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