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 9
... persons of marked character . Rob- ert Smith , the father , was a man of curious talents and impulses , with a passion for foreign travel , and a mania , not a little destruc- tive to his finances , for building and altering country ...
... persons of marked character . Rob- ert Smith , the father , was a man of curious talents and impulses , with a passion for foreign travel , and a mania , not a little destruc- tive to his finances , for building and altering country ...
Page 25
... persons with whom I became acquainted were , Lord Jeffrey , Lord Murray ( late ord - Advocate for Scotland ) , and Lord Brougham ; all of them maintaining * Lady Holland's Memoir , fourth Eng . ed . i . , 52 . † Memoir and ...
... persons with whom I became acquainted were , Lord Jeffrey , Lord Murray ( late ord - Advocate for Scotland ) , and Lord Brougham ; all of them maintaining * Lady Holland's Memoir , fourth Eng . ed . i . , 52 . † Memoir and ...
Page 35
... persons . This , though far below that of the company on any distinguished occasion of the kind in New York or Boston , of late years , was held to be an immense achievement . Ladies and philosophers were alike entrapped into admiration ...
... persons . This , though far below that of the company on any distinguished occasion of the kind in New York or Boston , of late years , was held to be an immense achievement . Ladies and philosophers were alike entrapped into admiration ...
Page 54
... persons were , on one occasion , probably an average one , present . The portrait of Bunch , that important portion of the Foston family , is immortal ; a sketch from reality equal to the imagina- tion of Dickens . Mrs. Marcet , the ...
... persons were , on one occasion , probably an average one , present . The portrait of Bunch , that important portion of the Foston family , is immortal ; a sketch from reality equal to the imagina- tion of Dickens . Mrs. Marcet , the ...
Page 62
... persons of superior station , surveying , with heartfelt sympathy , the cares and enjoyments of life on a lower level . Hodge had always , in Sydney Smith , a friend , who understood him , and when it was threatened that Hodge's beer ...
... persons of superior station , surveying , with heartfelt sympathy , the cares and enjoyments of life on a lower level . Hodge had always , in Sydney Smith , a friend , who understood him , and when it was threatened that Hodge's beer ...
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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...