Heaven never helps the men who will not act.

Quote by Sydney Smith

Topics: Sydney Smith Quotes

I have the most perfect confidence in your indiscretion

I have the most perfect confidence in your indiscretion

Science is his forte, and omniscience his foible.

Science is his forte, and omniscience his foible.

As the French say, there are three sexes - men, women, and clergymen.

As the French say, there are three sexes - men, women, and clergymen.

It is safest to be moderately base - to be flexible in shame, and to...

It is safest to be moderately base - to be flexible in shame, and to...

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...

Never give way to melancholy; resist it steadily, for the habit will encroach.

Never give way to melancholy; resist it steadily, for the habit will encroach.

Praise is the best diet for us, after all

Praise is the best diet for us, after all

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,...

A comfortable house is a great source of happiness. It ranks immediately after health and...

A comfortable house is a great source of happiness. It ranks immediately after health and...

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...

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,...

I never read a book before previewing it; it prejudices a man so.

I never read a book before previewing it; it prejudices a man so.

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...

In composing, as a general rule, run your pen through every other word you have...

In composing, as a general rule, run your pen through every other word you have...

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...

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...

To business that we love we rise bedtime, and go to't with delight.

To business that we love we rise bedtime, and go to't with delight.

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...

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...

No man can ever end with being superior who will not begin with being inferior.

No man can ever end with being superior who will not begin with being inferior.