Sydney Smith Quotes

The main question to a novel is -- did it amuse? were you surprised at dinner coming so soon? did you mistake eleven for ten? were you too late to dress? and did you sit up beyond the usual hour? If a novel produces these effects, it is good; if it does not -- story, language, love, scandal itself cannot save it. It is only meant to please; and it must do that or it does nothing.

~ Sydney Smith

No furniture is so charming as books.

~ Sydney Smith

Madam, I have been looking for a person who disliked gravy all my life; let us swear eternal friendship.

~ Sydney Smith

The fact is that in order to do anything in this world worth doing, we must not stand shivering on the bank thinking of the cold and the danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can.

~ Sydney Smith

When you rise in the morning, form a resolution to make the day a happy one for a fellow creature.

~ Sydney Smith

I always fear that creation will expire before teatime.

~ Sydney Smith

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little, do something.

~ Sydney Smith

Going to marry her? Impossible! You mean a part of her; he could not marry her all himself. It would be a case, not of bigamy but trigamy; there is enough of her to furnish wives for the whole parish. One man marry her! - it is monstrous! You might people a colony with her; or give an assembly with her; or perhaps take your morning's walk round her, always provided there were frequent resting places, and you were in rude health. I once was rash enough to try walking round her before breakfast, but only got half way and gave it up exhausted. Or you might read the Riot Act and disperse her; in short, you might do anything but marry her!

~ Sydney Smith

He has returned from Italy a greater bore than ever he bores on architecture painting statuary and music.

~ Sydney Smith

To do anything in this world worth doing we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger but jump in and scramble through as well as we can.

~ Sydney Smith

Oh don't tell me of facts - I never believe in facts you know Canning said nothing was so fallacious as facts except figures.

~ Sydney Smith

Take short views hope for the best and trust in God.

~ Sydney Smith

When you rise in the morning form a resolution to make the day a happy one for a fellow creature.

~ Sydney Smith

Politeness is good nature regulated by good sense.

~ Sydney Smith

Among the smaller duties in life I hardly know any one more important than that of not praising when praise is not due.

~ Sydney Smith

Never try to reason the prejudice out of a man. It was not reasoned into him and cannot be reasoned out.

~ Sydney Smith

Heat madam! It was so dreadful that I found there was nothing for it but to take off my flesh and sit in my bones.

~ Sydney Smith

He not only overflowed with learning but stood in the slop.

~ Sydney Smith

Never give way to melancholy resist it steadily for the habit will encroach.

~ Sydney Smith

To do anything in this world worth doing we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger but jump in and scramble through as well as we can.

~ Sydney Smith

Whatever you are by nature, keep to it; never desert your line of talent. Be what nature intended you for, and you will succeed.

~ Sydney Smith

A comfortable house is a great source of happiness. It ranks immediately after health and a good conscience.

~ Sydney Smith

As the French say, there are three sexes - men, women, and clergymen.

~ Sydney Smith

Never talk for half a minute without pausing and giving others a chance to join in.

~ Sydney Smith

A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage. Every day sends to their graves obscure men whose timidity prevented them from making a first effort.

~ Sydney Smith

Have the courage to be ignorant of a great number of things, in order to avoid the calamity of being ignorant of everything.

~ Sydney Smith

Marriage resembles a pair of shears, so joined that they cannot be separated; often moving in opposite directions, yet always punishing anyone who comes between them.

~ Sydney Smith