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

-Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson
  Remark,7  Apr. Quoted in  James Boswell  The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), vol.3.

Dictionaries are like watches, the worst is better than none, and the best cannot be expected to go quite true.

-Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson
  Letter to Francesco Sastres, 21  Aug. Quoted in  James Boswell The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), vol.4.