Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith
Sydney Smithwas an English wit, writer and Anglican cleric...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionClergyman
Date of Birth3 June 1771
greatest mistakes
It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little. Do what you can.
life children mistake
Lucy, dear child, mind your arithmetic. You know in the first sum of yours I ever saw there was a mistake. You had carried two (as a cab is licensed to do), and you ought, dear Lucy, to have carried but one. Is this a trifle? What would life be without arithmetic, but a scene of horrors.
mistake errors alliances
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.
mistake writing dresses
The main question to a novel is -- did it amuse? were you surprised at dinner coming so soon? did you mistake eleven for ten? were you too late to dress? and did you sit up beyond the usual hour? If a novel produces these effects, it is good; if it does not -- story, language, love, scandal itself cannot save it. It is only meant to please; and it must do that or it does nothing.
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.