In composing, as a general rule, run your pen through every other word you have written; you have no idea what vigor it will give your style.

Quote by Sydney Smith

Topics: Writing 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.

The observances of the church concerning feasts and fasts are tolerably well-kept, since the rich...

The observances of the church concerning feasts and fasts are tolerably well-kept, since the rich...

Heaven never helps the men who will not act.

Heaven never helps the men who will not act.

Live always in the best company when you read.

Live always in the best company when you read.

Praise is the best diet for us, after all

Praise is the best diet for us, after all

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...

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,...

Madam, I have been looking for a person who disliked gravy all my life; let...

Madam, I have been looking for a person who disliked gravy all my life; let...

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...

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...

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...

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

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

That sign of old age, extolling the past at the expense of the present.

That sign of old age, extolling the past at the expense of the present.

Poverty is no disgrace to a man, but it is confoundedly inconvenient

Poverty is no disgrace to a man, but it is confoundedly inconvenient

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...

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...

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

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

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do...

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do...

I look upon Switzerland as an inferior sort of Scotland.

I look upon Switzerland as an inferior sort of Scotland.

Solitude cherishes great virtues and destroys little ones.

Solitude cherishes great virtues and destroys little ones.