Sydney Smith Quotes

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

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

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.

It is always considered a piece of impertinence in England if a man of less than two or three thousand a year has any opinions at all upon important subjects.

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

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

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.

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

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

I have gout asthma and seven other maladies but am otherwise very well.

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.

Men whose trade is rat-catching love to catch rats the bug destroyer seizes on his bug with delight and the suppressor is gratified by finding his vice.

You never say a word of yourself dear Lady Grey. You have that dreadful sin of anti-egotism.

He (Macaulay) has occasional flashes of silence that make his conversation perfectly delightful.

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.

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

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

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

That sign of old age extolling the past at the expense of the present.

Hope is the belief more or less strong that joy will come desire is the wish it may come.

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

We know nothing of tomorrow our business is to be good and happy today.

Men whose trade is rat-catching love to catch rats the bug destroyer seizes on his bug with delight the suppressor is gratified by finding his vice.

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

What a pity it is that we have no amusements in England but vice and religion!

I never believe facts Canning said nothing was so fallacious as facts except figures.