Quotation by Samuel Johnson

Youth enters the world with very happy prejudices in her own favour. She imagines herself not only certain of accomplishing every adventure, but of obtaining those rewards which the accomplishment may deserve. She is not easily persuaded to believe that the force of merit can be resisted by obstinacy and avarice, or its lustre darkened by envy and malignity.
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784), British author, lexicographer. repr. in Works of Samuel Johnson, vol 4, eds. W.J. Bate and Albrecht B. Strauss (1969). Rambler (London, June 4, 1751), no. 127.
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