Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith
Sydney Smithwas an English wit, writer and Anglican cleric...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionClergyman
Date of Birth3 June 1771
desert intended line nature thousand whatever worse
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.
cannot joined pair punishing resembles
It 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.
best
Live always in the best company when you read.
base flexible gained good moderately safest
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.
berkeley bishop destroyed similar time volume
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.
great
What you don't know would make a great book.
business love
To business that we love we rise bedtime, and go to't with delight.
science
Science is his forte, and omniscience his foible.
helps men
Heaven never helps the men who will not act.
assume frivolous grave profound
Do not assume that because I am frivolous I am shallow; I don't assume that because you are grave you are profound
body cover exposed intellect mind
Not body enough to cover his mind decently with; his intellect is improperly exposed
It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little - do what you can.
greatest mistakes
It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little. Do what you can.
funny knives two
The two women exchanged the type of glance women use when there is no knife handy.