Who said “I am a great friend to public amusements; for they keep people from vice.”?

Verified

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

SourceLife of Johnson (Boswell), (1772)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Life of Johnson (Boswell), (1772).

APA

Johnson, S. (n.d.). I am a great friend to public amusements; for they keep people from vice. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/851-i-am-a-great-friend-to-public-amusements/

MLA

Johnson, Samuel. “I am a great friend to public amusements; for they keep people from vice.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/851-i-am-a-great-friend-to-public-amusements/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Johnson, Samuel. “I am a great friend to public amusements; for they keep people from vice.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/851-i-am-a-great-friend-to-public-amusements/.

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