Richard Brinsley Sheridan Quotes

They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.

I hate to see prudence clinging to the green suckers of youth; 'tis like ivy round a sapling, and spoils the growth of the tree.

There needs no small degree of address to gain the reputation of benevolence without incurring the expense.

In all cases of slander currency, whenever the forger of the lie is not to be found, the injured parties should have a right to come on any of the indorsers.

A fluent tongue is the only thing a mother don't like her daughter to resemble her in.

The newspapers! Sir, they are the most villainous - licentious -abominable - infernal - Not that I ever read them - No - I make it a rule never to look into a newspaper.

If it is abuse, - why one is always sure to hear of it from one damned goodnatured friend or another!

My valour is certainly going! - it is sneaking off! - I feel it oozing out as it were at the palms of my hands!

Many a wretch has rid on a hurdle who has done less mischief than utterers of forged tales, coiners of scandal, and clippers of reputation.

Our ancestors are very good kind of folks; but they are the last people I should choose to have a visiting acquaintance with.

Steal! to be sure they may; and, egad, serve your best thoughts as gypsies do stolen children,-disfigure them to make 'em pass for their own.

A progeny of learning.

Ay, ay, the best terms will grow obsolete: damns have had their day.

Our memories are independent of our wills.

Prudence, like experience, must be paid for.

If I reprehend anything in this world, it is the use of my oracular tongue, and a nice derangement of epitaphs!

Satires and lampoons on particular people circulate more by giving copies in confidence to the friends of the parties, than by printing them.

Easy writings curse is hard reading.

There 's nothing like being used to a thing.

Tale-bearers are as bad as the tale-makers.

Self confidence is the ground stone of success

Date not the life which thou hast run by the mean of reckoning of the hours and days, which though hast breathed: a life spent worthily should be measured by a nobler line, - by deeds, not years.

There never was a scandalous tale without some foundation.

We will not anticipate the past; so mind, young people,-our retrospection will be all to the future.

It is not my interest to pay the principal, nor my principle to pay the interest.

No scandal about Queen Elizabeth, I hope?

The quarrel is a very pretty quarrel as it stands - we should only spoil it by trying to explain it.

The throne we honour is the people's choice.

Where they do agree on the stage, their unanimity is wonderful.

The silver ore of pure charity is an expensive article in the catalogue of a man's good qualities.

Sheer necessity,-the proper parent of an art so nearly allied to invention.

I had rather follow you to your grave than see you owe your life to any but a regular-bred physician.

Had I a heart for falsehood framed, I ne'er could injure you.

Humanity always becomes a conqueror.

Whena scandalousstory isbelieved againstone, thereis certainly no comfort like the conscience of having deserved it.

I ne'er could any luster see in eyes that would not look on me.

Wine does but draw forth a man's natural qualities.

O Lord, Sir - when a heroine goes mad she always goes into white satin.

You shall see them on a beautiful quarto page where a neat rivulet of text shall meander through a meadow of margin.

If the thought is slow to come, a glass of good wine encourages it; and when it does come, a glass of good wine rewards it.

I was struck all on a heap.

I'll make my old clothes know who's master. I shall straightaway cashier the hunting-frock, and render my leather breeches incapable. My hair has been in training some time.

A readiness to resent injuries is a virtue only in those who are slow to injure.

A man may think an untruth as well as speak one.

Illiterate him, I say, quite from your memory.

Believe not each accusing tongue, As most weak persons do; But still believe that story wrong, Which ought not to be true!

As there are three of us come on purpose for the game, you won't be so cantankerous as to spoil the party by sitting out.

Here is the whole set! a character dead at every word.

Though I never scruple a lie to serve my Master, it hurts one's conscience to be found out!

A life spent worthily should be measured by a nobler line,-by deeds, not years.