"Depend upon it that if a man talks of his misfortunes there is something in them that is not disagreeable to him; for where there is nothing but pure misery there never is any recourse to the mention of it"
- Samuel Johnson
About this Quote
This quote by Samuel Johnson recommends that when a person speaks about their bad luck, there is something in them that they discover enjoyable. Johnson implies that when a person remains in a state of pure torment, they will not talk about it. This suggests that when an individual discusses their bad luck, they are not in a state of pure torment, and that there is something in their misfortunes that they discover satisfying. This might be the attention they receive from discussing their miseries, or the sensation of being able to reveal their sensations. Johnson's quote indicates that when an individual talks about their bad luck, it is not necessarily a bad thing, as it can be a method for them to manage their circumstance.
About the Author