Sydney Smith Quotes

Whatever you are by nature, keep to it; never desert your line of talent. Be what nature intended you for, and you will succeed.

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

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!

Do not try to push your way through to the front ranks of your profession; do not run after distinctions and rewards; but do your utmost to find an entry into the world of beauty.

A comfortable house is a great source of happiness. It ranks immediately after health and a good conscience.

Correspondences are like small clothes before the invention of suspenders; it is impossible to keep them up.

I have no relish for the country; it is a kind of healthy grave.

What would life be without arithmetic, but a scene of horrors?

I look upon Switzerland as an inferior sort of Scotland.

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."

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

I am old, but I certainly have not that sign of old age, extolling the past at the expense of the present.

Thank God for tea! What would the world do without tea? how did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea.

In composing, as a general rule, run your pen through every other word you have written; you have no idea what vigour it will give your style.

Ah! what you don't know would make a great book.