Home > Author > Sydney Smith
1 " 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 ,
2 " No furniture is so charming as books. "
3 " Madam, I have been looking for a person who disliked gravy all my life; let us swear eternal friendship. "
― Sydney Smith
4 " When you rise in the morning, form a resolution to make the day a happy one for a fellow creature. "
5 " I always fear that creation will expire before teatime. "
6 " 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! "
7 " Whatever you are by nature, keep to it; never desert your line of talent. Be what nature intended you for, and you will succeed. "
8 " 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. "
9 " Have the courage to be ignorant of a great number of things, in order to avoid the calamity of being ignorant of everything. "
10 " Thank God for tea! What would the world do without tea! How did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea. "
11 " Partial Quote;“A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage”.Full Quote; “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”. "
12 " If you want to improve your understanding, drink coffee. "
13 " we know nothing of tomorrow, our business is to be good and happy today "
14 " People who love only once in their lives are shallow people. What they call their loyalty, and their fidelity, I call either the lethargy of custom, or their lack of imagination "
15 " A man who wishes to make his way in life could do no better than go through the world with a boiling tea-kettle in his hand. "
16 " No furniture is so charming as books, even if you never open them or read a single word. "
17 " If I were to begin life again, I would devote it to music. It is the only cheap and unpunished rapture upon earth. "
18 " Life is to be fortified by many friendships. To love, and to be loved, is the greatest happiness of existence. "
19 " It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little; do something. "
20 " I never read a book before reviewing it; it prejudices a man so. "
