Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith
Sydney Smithwas an English wit, writer and Anglican cleric...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionClergyman
Date of Birth3 June 1771
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
tea thank-god world
Thank God for tea! What would the world do without tea! How did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea.
burning charm days direct food given god laughter life man marble plain steps support ways
Man could direct his ways by plain reason, and support his life by tasteless food, but God has given us wit, and flavor, and brightness, and laughter to enliven the days of man's pilgrimage, and to charm his pained steps over the burning marble
army views trust-in-god
Take short views, hope for the best and trust in God.
man minutes together
I never could find any man who could think for two minutes together
grave healthy relish
I have no relish for the country; it is a kind of healthy grave
book man prejudices reviewing
I never read a book before reviewing it - it prejudices a man so
body cover exposed intellect mind
Not body enough to cover his mind decently with; his intellect is improperly exposed
cannot dined fate harm today
Serenely full, the epicure would say, Fate cannot harm me, I have dined today
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.
intended nature thousand worse
Be what nature intended you for, and you will succeed; be anything else and you will be ten thousand times worse than nothing
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.
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.