Samuel Johnson Quotes

I have an opinion. I have my own taste.

Beauty is altogether in the eye of the beholder.

Everyone carries his own inch rule of taste, and amuses himself by applying it, triumphantly, wherever he travels.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Who's to say what's a good voice and not a good voice?

Beauty is subjective, so people's opinions don't really matter.

Pleasure is by no means an infallible critical guide, but it is the least fallible.

"Taste is not only a part and index of morality, it is the only morality. The first, and last, and closest trial question to any living creature is "What do you like?" Tell me what you like, I'll tell you what you are."

You like some things, you don't like others. It doesn't mean there's anything wrong with the others, it just means you have an opinion.

There are three distinct kind of judges upon all new authors or productions; the first are those who know no rules, but pronounce entirely from their natural taste and feelings; the second are those who know and judge by rules; and the third are those who know, but are above the rules. These last are those you should wish to satisfy. Next to them rate the natural judges; but ever despise those opinions that are formed by the rules.

What is aught but as 'tis valued?

I just think of things as beautiful or not. Can't you understand? I don't think of good or bad. Just of beautiful or ugly. I think a lot of nice things are ugly and a lot of nasty things are beautiful.

Good taste is always bad.

I just always think, 'Do I like it?' And if I like it, maybe other people will come and like it too.

A good taste is often unconscious; a just taste is always conscious.

Beauty is an opinion not a fact.

Talk what you will of taste, my friend, you'll find two of a face as soon as of a mind.

All of life is a dispute over taste and tasting.

Taste ... is a matter of taste (Tad Allagash)

The sole evidence it is possible to produce that anything is desirable, is that people do actually desire it.

Taste has no system and no proofs.

Whether you call someone a hero or a monster is all relative to where the focus of your consciousness may be.

I have my own tastes and I have my my own... like, I dunno. I think it's really subjective; something that I think is a great song, is unlistenable to somebody else, which I've come to realise.

Art has got nothing to do with taste.

[Good taste] is a nineteenth-century concept. And good taste has never really been defined. The effort of projecting 'good taste' is so studied that it offends me. No, I prefer to negate that. We have to put a period to so-called good taste.