Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith
Sydney Smithwas an English wit, writer and Anglican cleric...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionClergyman
Date of Birth3 June 1771
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.
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.
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.
bridle dying fifteen horse manages paid per pouring schoolboy seven spoon taxed youth
The schoolboy whips his taxed top; the beardless youth manages his taxed horse with a taxed bridle on a taxed road; and the dying Englishman, pouring his medicine, which has paid seven per cent, into a spoon that has paid fifteen per cent, flings him
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.
compassion curate excites name
A Curate - there is something which excites compassion in the very name of a Curate!!!
argument humorous ounce pound wit worth
An ounce of wit is worth a pound of argument