Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith
Sydney Smithwas an English wit, writer and Anglican cleric...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionClergyman
Date of Birth3 June 1771
eleven far lemon living miles yorkshire
My living in Yorkshire was so far out of the way, that it was eleven miles away from a lemon
animate atoms onion within
Let onion atoms lurk within the bowl, And, scarce-suspected, animate the whole.
convince effect fool hear man produces talk
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
best diet praise
Praise is the best diet for us, after all
believe except figures
Don't tell me of facts, I never believe facts; you know Canning said nothing was so fallacious as facts, except figures
alliance dangerous deal errors extensive great obtain truth
Errors to be dangerous must have a great deal of truth mingled with them. It is only from this alliance that they can ever obtain an extensive circulation.
gives good knowledge reader takes writer writers-and-writing
The writer does the most good who gives his reader the most knowledge and takes from him the least time.
bridle dying fifteen horse manages paid per pouring schoolboy seven spoon taxed youth
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 seven per cent, into a spoon that has paid fifteen per cent, flings him
believe except facts falsehood
Oh, don't tell me of facts -- I never believe facts: you know Canning said nothing was so fallacious as facts, except figures.
advice idle life object piece scholars-and-scholarship
There is one piece of advice, in a life of study, which I think no one will object to; and that is, every now and then to be completely idle - to do nothing at all.
catch chance preaching unless
There is not the least use in preaching to anyone, unless you chance to catch them ill.
compassion curate excites name
A Curate - there is something which excites compassion in the very name of a Curate!!!
avoid expensive glory seek
Avoid shame, but do not seek glory, nothing is so expensive as glory
adversity gods heathen man might pleasure spectacle struggling wise writer
A wise man struggling with adversity is said by some heathen writer to be a spectacle on which the gods might look down with pleasure