Sydney Smith

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

“Marriage resembles a pair of shears, so joined that they cannot be separated; often moving in opposite directions, yet always punishing any one who comes between them.”

“Take short views, hope for the best, and trust in God.”

“Have the courage to be ignorant of a great number of things, in order to avoid the calamity of being ignorant of everything.”

“I never read a book before reviewing it; it prejudices a man so.”

“It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little. Do what you can.”

“A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage.”

“Life is to be fortified by many friendships. To love and to be loved is the greatest happiness of existence.”

“Never try to reason the prejudice out of a man. It was not reasoned into him, and cannot be reasoned out of him.”

“My idea of heaven is eating pâté de foie gras to the sound of trumpets.”

“Mankind are always happy for having been happy; so that if you make them happy now, you make them happy twenty years hence by the memory of it.”

“I have no relish for the country; it is a kind of healthy grave.”

“The world is so ridiculously opinionated.”

“What two ideas are more inseparable than beer and Britannia!”

“If you want to be witty, say what you think.”