Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith
Sydney Smithwas an English wit, writer and Anglican cleric...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionClergyman
Date of Birth3 June 1771
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
confidence perfect
I have the most perfect confidence in your indiscretion
bishop service
How can a bishop marry? How can he flirt? The most he can say is, "I will see you in the vestry after service
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.
Poverty us no disgrace to a man, but it is confoundedly inconvenient.
helps men
Heaven never helps the men who will not act.
religion vice
What a pity it is that we have no amusements in England but vice and religion!
illusion
I have, alas, only one illusion left, and that is the Archbishop of Canterbury.