Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith
Sydney Smithwas an English wit, writer and Anglican cleric...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionClergyman
Date of Birth3 June 1771
catch chance preaching unless
There is not the least use in preaching to anyone, unless you chance to catch them ill.
argument humorous ounce pound wit worth
An ounce of wit is worth a pound of argument
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
compassion curate excites name
A Curate - there is something which excites compassion in the very name of a Curate!!!
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.
faith man reason render within
It is always right that a man should be able to render a reason for the faith that is within him.
false honor human man natural obscurity patience praise spite sweet wish
It is natural to every man to wish for distinction, and the praise of those who can confer honor by their praise, in spite of all false philosophy, is sweet to every human heart; but as eminence can be but the lot of a few, patience of obscurity is a
conversation flashes occasional perfectly silence
He had occasional flashes of silence that made his conversation perfectly delightful.
death deserves preached wild
He deserves to be preached to death by wild curates
conversation delightful flashes occasional perfectly silence
He (Macaulay) has occasional flashes of silence that make his conversation perfectly delightful
cannot dined fate harm today
Serenely full, the epicure would say, Fate cannot harm me, I have dined today
confidence perfect
I have the most perfect confidence in your indiscretion
grave healthy relish
I have no relish for the country; it is a kind of healthy grave