Sydney Smith Quotes

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

Marriage, Moving, Cannot

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

Courage, Great, Men

Do not try to push your way through to the front ranks of your profession; do not run after distinctions and rewards; but do your utmost to find an entry into the world of beauty.
Sydney Smith

Beauty, Through, Find

Life is to be fortified by many friendships. To love and to be loved is the greatest happiness of existence.
Sydney Smith

Life, Love, Happiness

Manners are like the shadows of virtues, they are the momentary display of those qualities which our fellow creatures love and respect.
Sydney Smith

Love, Respect, Manners

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

Life, Important, Among

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little - do what you can.
Sydney Smith

Mistakes, Greatest, Nothing

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

Happiness, Good, Health

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

Women, Men, Three

In composing, as a general rule, run your pen through every other word you have written; you have no idea what vigor it will give your style.
Sydney Smith

Give, Through, Idea

It 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

Moving, Cannot, Between

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

Life, Friendship, Person

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

Nature, Keep, Whatever

Bishop Berkeley destroyed this world in one volume octavo; and nothing remained, after his time, but mind; which experienced a similar fate from the hand of Mr. Hume in 1737.
Sydney Smith

Time, Mind, Nothing

Correspondences are like small clothes before the invention of suspenders; it is impossible to keep them up.
Sydney Smith

Small, Before, Impossible

Errors, to be dangerous, must have a great deal of truth mingled with them. It is only from this alliance that they can ever obtain an extensive circulation.
Sydney Smith

Great, Truth, Dangerous

Find fault when you must find fault in private, and if possible sometime after the offense, rather than at the time.
Sydney Smith

Time, Find, After

Great men hallow a whole people, and lift up all who live in their time.
Sydney Smith

Time, Great, Men

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

Great, Courage, Everything

Heaven never helps the men who will not act.
Sydney Smith

Men, Act, Heaven

I have, alas, only one illusion left, and that is the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Sydney Smith

Left, Illusion, Alas

I look upon Switzerland as an inferior sort of Scotland.
Sydney Smith

Inferior, Scotland

I never read a book before previewing it; it prejudices a man so.
Sydney Smith

Book, Before, Read

It is safest to be moderately base - to be flexible in shame, and to be always ready for what is generous, good, and just, when anything is to be gained by virtue.
Sydney Smith

Good, Ready, Virtue

Let the Dean and Canons lay their heads together and the thing will be done.
Sydney Smith

Done, Together, Heads

Share with your Friends

Everyone likes a good quote - don't forget to share.

Biography

Nationality: English

Type: Clergyman

Born: June 3, 1771

Died: February 22, 1845

Links

Find on Amazon: Sydney Smith

Cite this Page: Citation

Popular Topics

Friendship Quotes

Motivational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

Related Authors

Matthew Henry
Thomas Fuller
Robert Hall
Charles Kingsley
William Ralph Inge
William Law
Joseph Hall
George Whitefield
More

Get Social with BrainyQuote

BrainyQuote Desktop

BrainyQuote Mobile

Site

Quote of the Day

Social

BQ on Pinterest

Syndication

Funny Quote Feed

Love Quote Feed

Nature Quote Feed

About Us