Quotes from Sydney Smith

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

Marriage resembles a pair of shears, so joined that they cannot be separated; often moving in opposite directions, yet always punishing anyone who comes between them.

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.

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.

Poverty is no disgrace to a man, but it is confoundedly inconvenient.

The two women exchanged the type of glance women use when there is no knife handy.

In the country! Oh, in the country I always fear that creation will expire before tea-time.

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little - do what you can.

What a pity it is that we have no amusements in England but vice and religion!

Men whose trade is rat-catching love to catch rats the bug destroyer seizes on his bug with delight the suppressor is gratified by finding his vice.

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

It is safest to be moderately base - to be flexible in shame, and to be always ready for what is generous, good, and just, when anything is to be gained by virtue.

Manners are like the shadows of virtues, they are the momentary display of those qualities which our fellow creatures love and respect.

Solitude cherishes great virtues and destroys little ones.

Madam, I have been looking for a person who disliked gravy all my life; let us swear eternal friendship.

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

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

That sign of old age, extolling the past at the expense of the present.

To love and be loved is the great happiness of existence.

Whatever you are from nature, keep to it; never desert your own line of talent. Be what nature intended you for, and you will succeed; be anything else, and you will be ten thousand times worse than nothing.

The spiritualization of sensuality is called love: it is a great triumph over Christianity. Friedrich Nietzsche To love and be loved is the great happiness of existence.

Marriage resembles a pair of shears, so joined that they cannot be separated, often moving in opposite directions, yet always punishing anyone who comes in between them.