Who said “A fly, Sir, may sting a stately horse and make him wince; but one is but an insect, and…”?

Verified

Samuel Johnson. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceVol I, (1754), p. 72 (n. 4)

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“A fly, Sir, may sting a stately horse and make him wince; but one is but an insect, and the other is a horse still.”
— Samuel Johnson
VerifiedVol I, (1754), p. 72 (n. 4) · evidenceAbuse
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Vol I, (1754), p. 72 (n. 4).

APA

Johnson, S. (n.d.). A fly, Sir, may sting a stately horse and make him wince; but one is but an insect, and the other is a horse still. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/216-a-fly-sir-may-sting-a-stately-horse/

MLA

Johnson, Samuel. “A fly, Sir, may sting a stately horse and make him wince; but one is but an insect, and the other is a horse still.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/216-a-fly-sir-may-sting-a-stately-horse/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Johnson, Samuel. “A fly, Sir, may sting a stately horse and make him wince; but one is but an insect, and the other is a horse still.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/216-a-fly-sir-may-sting-a-stately-horse/.

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