Wit and wisdom of the Rev. Sydney Smith: being selections from his writings and passages of his letters and table talk |
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Page 54
... idea of the labour it has cost me to give her that decision of character . The Yorkshire peasantry are the quickest and shrewdest in the world , but you can never get a direct answer from them ; if you ask them even their own names ...
... idea of the labour it has cost me to give her that decision of character . The Yorkshire peasantry are the quickest and shrewdest in the world , but you can never get a direct answer from them ; if you ask them even their own names ...
Page 60
... idea of heaven was eating foie gras to the sound of trumpets ! " Smith wrote well on temperance , and practised it . Fine sayings like these , however , the immortal salad receipt , and records of innumerable " dinings out , " in the ...
... idea of heaven was eating foie gras to the sound of trumpets ! " Smith wrote well on temperance , and practised it . Fine sayings like these , however , the immortal salad receipt , and records of innumerable " dinings out , " in the ...
Page 62
... idea of the beauty , gayety , and happiness of the scene in which they took place , or the charm that he infused into the society assembled round his breakfast - table . The room , an oblong , was , as I have already described ...
... idea of the beauty , gayety , and happiness of the scene in which they took place , or the charm that he infused into the society assembled round his breakfast - table . The room , an oblong , was , as I have already described ...
Page 75
... idea of an Athenian carter . " He once sat to his friend , Gilbert Stuart Newton , for an abbot , in a painting . Newton made a portrait of Smith , representing him in the later period of life when all his faculties were mellowed and ...
... idea of an Athenian carter . " He once sat to his friend , Gilbert Stuart Newton , for an abbot , in a painting . Newton made a portrait of Smith , representing him in the later period of life when all his faculties were mellowed and ...
Page 82
... idea in every possible shape . The inconvenience of a man coming too near the candle when he was speaking , ' Sir , your observation has caught * Twenty - third laird of the Mackintoshes of that ilk , was created a Baronet in 1812. He ...
... idea in every possible shape . The inconvenience of a man coming too near the candle when he was speaking , ' Sir , your observation has caught * Twenty - third laird of the Mackintoshes of that ilk , was created a Baronet in 1812. He ...
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Common terms and phrases
admiration American appears beautiful believe bishops called Catholic character church clergy Combe Florey common conversation dear death delight dinner Dugald Stewart Edinburgh Review England English evil excite eyes father feeling Foston genius gentleman give habit happiness hear heart Heslington Holland House honour Horner human humour Ireland Jeffrey justice knowledge labour Lady Holland Lady Holland's Memoir laugh letter live London look Lord Holland Lord John Russell Luttrell Mackintosh Madame Madame de Staël mankind manner means mind misery moral morning nature never object opinion passed passion person pleasure political poor preach reason reform relation of ideas remember rich Rogers sense sermon Sir James Mackintosh society sublime Sydney Smith talents talk Talleyrand taste things thought tion truth understanding virtue whig whole wisdom witty women writes young
Popular passages
Page 316 - In the midst of this sublime and terrible storm, Dame Partington, who lived upon the beach, was seen at the door of her house with mop and pattens, trundling her mop, squeezing out the sea-water, and vigorously pushing away the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic was roused. Mrs. Partington's spirit was up; but I need not tell you that the contest was unequal. The Atlantic Ocean beat Mrs. Partington. She was excellent at a slop, or a puddle, but she should not have meddled with a tempest. Gentlemen, be...
Page 190 - In the four quarters of the globe, who reads an American book ? or goes to an American play ? or looks at an American picture or statue?
Page 406 - Or dairy, each rural sight, each rural sound; If chance with nymph-like step fair virgin pass, What pleasing seemed, for her now pleases more, She most, and in her look sums all delight.
Page 187 - Dwight, who wrote some poems ; and his baptismal name was Timothy. There is also a small account of Virginia by Jefferson, and an epic by Joel Barlow ; and some pieces of pleasantry by Mr. Irving. But why should the Americans write books, when a six weeks' passage brings them, in their own tongue, our sense, science, and genius, in bales and hogsheads?
Page 270 - We talk of human life as a journey, but how variously is that journey performed ! There are some who come forth girt, and shod, and mantled, to walk on velvet lawns and smooth terraces, where every gale is arrested, and every beam is tempered. There are others who walk on the Alpine paths of life, against driving misery, and through stormy sorrows, over sharp afflictions ; walk with bare feet, and naked breast, jaded, mangled, and chilled.
Page 187 - TAXES upon every article which enters into the mouth, or covers the back, or is placed under the foot — taxes upon every thing which it is pleasant to see, hear, feel, smell, or taste — taxes upon warmth, light, and locomotion — taxes on every thing on earth, and the waters under the earth...
Page 102 - That he was not scrupulously pious in some part of his life, is known by many idle and indecent applications of sentences taken from the Scriptures ; a mode of merriment which a good man dreads for its profaneness, and a witty man disdains for its easiness and vulgarity.
Page 227 - I may therefore conclude, that the passion of laughter is nothing else but sudden glory arising from a sudden conception of some eminency in ourselves, by comparison with the infirmity of others, or with our own formerly...
Page 423 - Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there : if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea ; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me," even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and...
Page 405 - As one who long in populous city pent, Where houses thick and sewers annoy the air, Forth issuing on a summer's morn to breathe Among the pleasant villages and farms...