Who said “It is very strange, and very melancholy, that the paucity of human pleasures should…”?

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

SourceAnecdotes of Samuel Johnson (1786)

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“It is very strange, and very melancholy, that the paucity of human pleasures should persuade us ever to call hunting one of them.”
— Samuel Johnson
VerifiedAnecdotes of Samuel Johnson (1786) · evidenceHunting
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Anecdotes of Samuel Johnson (1786).

APA

Johnson, S. (n.d.). It is very strange, and very melancholy, that the paucity of human pleasures should persuade us ever to call hunting one of them. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/23015-it-is-very-strange-and-very-melancholy-that/

MLA

Johnson, Samuel. “It is very strange, and very melancholy, that the paucity of human pleasures should persuade us ever to call hunting one of them.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/23015-it-is-very-strange-and-very-melancholy-that/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Johnson, Samuel. “It is very strange, and very melancholy, that the paucity of human pleasures should persuade us ever to call hunting one of them.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/23015-it-is-very-strange-and-very-melancholy-that/.

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More quotes by Samuel Johnson

“He who praises everybody, praises nobody.”
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