Richard Brinsley Sheridan Quotes

Just. There they go, ding dong in for the day. Good lack! a fluent tongue is the only thing a mother don’t like her daughter to resemble her in.

'Tis safest in matrimony to begin with a little aversion.

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

LADY SNEERWELL. Why truly Mrs. Clackit has a very pretty Talent — a great deal of industry — yet — yes — been tolerably successful in her way — To my knowledge she has been the cause of breaking off six matches[,] of three sons being disinherited and four Daughters being turned out of Doors. Of three several Elopements, as many close confinements — nine separate maintenances and two Divorces. — nay I have more than once traced her causing a Tete-a-Tete in the Town and Country Magazine — when the Parties perhaps had never seen each other’s Faces before in the course of their Lives. VERJUICE. She certainly has Talents.

-'tis an old observation, and a very true one; but what's to be done, as I said before? how will you prevent people from talking?...

SURFACE. The license of invention some people take is monstrous indeed. MARIA. ’Tis so but in my opinion, those who report such things are equally culpable.

An unforgiving eye, and a damned disinheriting countenance.

LADY TEAZLE. Sir Peter — Sir Peter you — may scold or smile, according to your Humour[,] but I ought to have my own way in everything, and what’s more I will too — what! tho’ I was educated in the country I know very well that women of Fashion in London are accountable to nobody after they are married. SIR PETER. Very well! ma’am very well! so a husband is to have no influence, no authority? LADY TEAZLE. Authority! no, to be sure — if you wanted authority over me, you should have adopted me and not married me[:] I am sure you were old enough.

Death's a debt; his mandamus binds all alike — no bail, no demurrer.

Certainly nothing is unnatural that is not physically impossible.

Such protection as vultures give to lambs.

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.

My hair has been in training some time.

Mrs Candour: I’ll swear her colour is natural—I have seen it come and go—Lady Teazle: I dare swear you have, ma’am; it goes of a night and comes again in the morning.

LADY SNEERWELL. I’m not disappointed in Snake, I never suspected the fellow to have virtue enough to be faithful even to his own Villany.