Sydney Smith Quotes

When I hear any man talk of an unalterable law, the only effect it produces upon me is to convince me that he is an unalterable fool.

I am glad you like what I said of Mrs. Elizabeth Fry (prison and mental hospital reformer). She is very unpopular with the clergy; examples of living, active virtue disturb our repose and give one to distressing comparisons; we long to burn her alive.

The dearest things in the world
are our neighbor's eyes;
they cost everybody more
than anything else in housekeeping.

If you could be alarmed into the semblance of modesty, you would charm everybody; but remember my joke against you about the Moon and the Solar System;—"Damn the solar system! bad light — planets too distant — pestered with comets — feeble contriviance; — could make a better with great ease."

A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage

We can inform Jonathan what are the inevitable consequences of being too fond of glory;—<small>TAXES</small> upon every article which enters into the mouth, or covers the back, or is placed under the foot—taxes upon every thing which it is pleasant to see, hear, feel, smell, or taste—taxes upon warmth, light, and locomotion—taxes on every thing on earth, and the waters under the earth—on every thing that comes from abroad, or is grown at home—taxes on the raw material—taxes on every fresh value that is added to it by the industry of man—taxes on the sauce which pampers man's appetite, and the drug that restores him to health—on the ermine which decorates the judge, and the rope which hangs the criminal—on the poor man's salt, and the rich man's spice—on the brass nails of the coffin, and the ribands of the bride—at bed or board, couchant or levant, we must pay:—The schoolboy whips his taxed top—the beardless youth manages his taxed horse, with a taxed bridle on a taxed road:—and the dying Englishman pouring his medicine, which has paid 7 per cent., into a spoon that has paid 15 per cent.—flings himself back upon his chintz-bed which has paid 22 per cent.—makes his will on an eight pound stamp, and expires in the arms of an apothecary who has paid a license of an hundred pounds for the privilege of putting him to death. His whole property is then immediately taxed from 2 to 10 per cent. Besides the probate, large fees are demanded for burying him in the chancel; his virtues are handed down to posterity on taxed marble; and he is then gathered to his fathers,—to be taxed no more.

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.

The fact is that in order to do any thing 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.

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

Let onion atoms lurk within the bowl
And, scarce suspected, animate the whole.

If you want to improve your understanding, drink coffee.

How can a bishop marry? How can he flirt? The most he can say is, "I will see you in the vestry after service."

Married couples resemble a pair of scissors,
often moving in opposite directions,
yet punishing anyone who gets in between them

All musical people seem to be happy.
It is the engrossing pursuit, — almost the only innocent and
unpunished passion.

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