To improve the golden moment of opportunity, and catch the good that is within our reach, is the great art of life.

Fearing the consequences of independence for both the colonies and the mother country Johnson sought to avoid extremism and to reach a compromise on the outstanding political differences between the protagonists. He lived in London from 1767 to 1771 serving as Connecticut's agent in its attempt to settle the colony's title to Indian lands. In general he favored extension of federal authority.