Who said “A man may be so much of every thing, that he is nothing of any thing.”?

Verified

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

SourceVol IV, (1783) p. 500

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Vol IV, (1783) p. 500.

APA

Johnson, S. (n.d.). A man may be so much of every thing, that he is nothing of any thing. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/22368-a-man-may-be-so-much-of-every/

MLA

Johnson, Samuel. “A man may be so much of every thing, that he is nothing of any thing.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/22368-a-man-may-be-so-much-of-every/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Johnson, Samuel. “A man may be so much of every thing, that he is nothing of any thing.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/22368-a-man-may-be-so-much-of-every/.