A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage. Every day sends to their graves obscure men whose timidity prevented them from making a first effort.

Quote by Sydney Smith

Topics: Sydney Smith Quotes

Great men hallow a whole people, and lift up all who live in their time.

Great men hallow a whole people, and lift up all who live in their time.

Live always in the best company when you read.

Live always in the best company when you read.

Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for...

Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for...

Never talk for half a minute without pausing and giving others a chance to join...

Never talk for half a minute without pausing and giving others a chance to join...

Manners are like the shadows of virtues, they are the momentary display of those qualities...

Manners are like the shadows of virtues, they are the momentary display of those qualities...

Bishop Berkeley destroyed this world in one volume octavo; and nothing remained, after his time,...

Bishop Berkeley destroyed this world in one volume octavo; and nothing remained, after his time,...

Don't tell me of facts, I never believe facts; you know Canning said nothing was...

Don't tell me of facts, I never believe facts; you know Canning said nothing was...

What you don't know would make a great book.

What you don't know would make a great book.

Man could direct his ways by plain reason, and support his life by tasteless food,...

Man could direct his ways by plain reason, and support his life by tasteless food,...

Man could direct his ways by plain reason, and support his life by tasteless food,...

Man could direct his ways by plain reason, and support his life by tasteless food,...

I never read a book before reviewing it - it prejudices a man so

I never read a book before reviewing it - it prejudices a man so

Heaven never helps the men who will not act.

Heaven never helps the men who will not act.

What would life be without arithmetic, but a scene of horrors?

What would life be without arithmetic, but a scene of horrors?

Whatever you are from nature, keep to it; never desert your own line of talent....

Whatever you are from nature, keep to it; never desert your own line of talent....

Have the courage to be ignorant of a great number of things, in order to...

Have the courage to be ignorant of a great number of things, in order to...

Correspondences are like small clothes before the invention of suspenders; it is impossible to keep...

Correspondences are like small clothes before the invention of suspenders; it is impossible to keep...

Among the smaller duties of life I hardly know any one more important than that...

Among the smaller duties of life I hardly know any one more important than that...

The thing about performance, even if it's only an illusion, is that it is a...

The thing about performance, even if it's only an illusion, is that it is a...

Whatever you are by nature, keep to it; never desert your line of talent. Be...

Whatever you are by nature, keep to it; never desert your line of talent. Be...

The object of preaching is to constantly remind mankind of what they keep forgetting; not...

The object of preaching is to constantly remind mankind of what they keep forgetting; not...