Heaven never helps the men who will not act. Sydney Smith More Quotes by Sydney Smith More Quotes From Sydney Smith Whatever you are by nature, keep to it; never desert your line of talent. Be what nature intended you for, and you will succeed. Sydney Smith successmotivationalinspirational 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. Sydney Smith dinnermistakewriting Life is to be fortified by many friendships. To love and to be loved is the greatest happiness of existence. Sydney Smith happinesslovefriendship A great deal of talent is lost to the world for the want of a little courage. Every day sends to their graves a number of obscure men who have only remained obscure because their timidity has prevented them from making a first effort; and who, if they could only have been induced to begin, would in all probability have gone great lengths in the career of fame. Sydney Smith confidencenaturecourage Thank God for tea! What would the world do without tea! How did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea. Sydney Smith thank-godteaworld A man who wishes to make his way in life could do no better than go through the world with a boiling tea-kettle in his hand. Sydney Smith way-in-lifemenhands we know nothing of tomorrow, our business is to be good and happy today Sydney Smith tomorrowtodayhappiness Never try to reason the prejudice out of a man. It was not reasoned into him, and cannot be reasoned out. Sydney Smith tryingmenreligion A comfortable house is a great source of happiness. It ranks immediately after health and a good conscience. Sydney Smith househomehappiness He who drinks a tumbler of London water has literally in his stomach more animated beings than there are men, women, and children on the face of the globe. Sydney Smith humorfunnychildren If I were to begin life again, I would devote it to music. It is the only cheap and unpunished rapture upon earth. Sydney Smith rapturemusicearth Marriage resembles a pair of shears, so joined that they cannot be separated; often moving in opposite directions, yet always punishing anyone who comes between them. Sydney Smith marriageanniversarymoving Resolve to make at least one person happy every day, and then in ten years you may have made three thousand, six hundred and fifty persons happy, or brightened a small town by your contribution to the fund of general enjoyment. Sydney Smith new-yearthreeyears The two women exchanged the type of glance women use when there is no knife handy. Sydney Smith knivesfunnytwo People who love only once in their lives are shallow people. What they call their loyalty, and their fidelity, I call either the lethargy of custom, or their lack of imagination Sydney Smith loyaltyimaginationpeople Politeness is good nature regulated by good sense. Sydney Smith politenessgood-naturearmy 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. Sydney Smith mistakelifechildren I always fear that creation will expire before teatime. Sydney Smith coffee-and-teacreationtea The thing about performance, even if it's only an illusion, is that it is a celebration of the fact that we do contain within ourselves infinite possibilities. Sydney Smith actingmotivationalinspirational If you want to improve your understanding, drink coffee. Sydney Smith coffeeunderstandingwant
