Top 100 Richard Brinsley Sheridan Quotes
#1. Had I a thousand daughters, by Heaven! I'd as soon have them taught the black art as their alphabet!
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#2. Believe not each accusing tongue,
As most weak persons do;
But still believe that story wrong,
Which ought not to be true!
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#3. I had rather follow you to your grave than see you owe your life to any but a regular-bred physician.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#4. If Charles is undone, he'll find half his acquaintance ruined too, and that, you know, is a consolation.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#5. In all cases of slander currency, whenever the forger of the lie is not to be found, the injured parties should have a right to come on any of the indorsers.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#6. I am compliance itself - when I am not thwarted; - no one more easily led - when I have my own way.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#9. To smile at the jest which plants a thorn in another's breast is to become a principal in the mischief.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#11. When of a gossiping circle it was asked, "What are they doing?" The answer was, "Swapping lies.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#12. Satires and lampoons on particular people circulate more by giving copies in confidence to the friends of the parties, than by printing them.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#13. Mr. Speaker. I said the honorable member was a liar it is true and I am sorry for it. The honorable member may place the punctuation where he pleases.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#17. Women govern us; let us render them perfect: the more they are enlightened, so much the more shall we be. On the cultivation of the mind of women depends the wisdom of men. It is by women that nature writes on the hearts of men.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#22. There are a set of malicious, prating, prudent gossips, both male and female, who murder characters to kill time; and will rob a young fellow of his good name before he has years to know the value of it.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#23. Men seldom think deeply on subjects in which they have no choice of opinion: they are fearful of encountering obstacles to their faith
as in religion
and so are content with the surface.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#25. A tale of scandal is as fatal to the credit of a prudent lady as a fever is generally to those of the strongest constitutions. But there is a sort of puny, sickly reputation, that is always ailing, yet will wither the robuster characters of a hundred prudes.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#26. The quarrel is a very pretty quarrel as it stands - we should only spoil it by trying to explain it.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#27. Remember that when you meet your antagonist, to do everything in a mild agreeable manner. Let your courage be keen, but, at the same time, as polished as your sword.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#31. The silver ore of pure charity is an expensive article in the catalogue of a man's good qualities.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#34. Steal! to be sure they may; and, egad, serve your best thoughts as gypsies do stolen children,-disfigure them to make 'em pass for their own.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#39. -'tis an old observation, and a very true one; but what's to be done, as I said before? how will you prevent people from talking? ...
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#42. The most threatened group in human societies as in animal societies is the unmated male: the unmated male is more likely to wind up in prison or in an asylum or dead than his mated counterpart. He is less likely to be promoted at work and he is considered a poor credit risk.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#43. You shall see them on a beautiful quarto page where a neat rivulet of text shall meander through a meadow of margin.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#48. The newspapers! Sir, they are the most villainous - licentious - abominable - infernal - Not that I ever read them - no - I make it a rule never to look into a newspaper.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#51. Nothing keeps me in such awe as perfect beauty; now, there is something consoling and encouraging in ugliness.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#53. Madam, a circulating library in a town is as an evergreen tree of diabolical knowledge; it blossoms through the year. And depend on it that they who are so fond of handling the leaves, will long for the fruit at last.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#54. I hate to see prudence clinging to the green suckers of youth; 'tis like ivy round a sapling, and spoils the growth of the tree.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#59. When delicate and feeling souls are separated, there is not a feature in the sky, not a movement of the elements, not an aspiration of the breeze, but hints some cause for a lover's apprehension.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#66. Date not the life which thou hast run by the mean of reckoning of the hours and days, which though hast breathed: a life spent worthily should be measured by a nobler line, - by deeds, not years ...
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#67. I ne'er could any lustre see In eyes that would not look on me; I ne'er saw nectar on a lip But where my own did hope to sip.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#72. The glorious uncertainty of the law was a thing well known and complained of, by all ignorant people, but all learned gentleman considered it as its greatest excellency.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#73. As there are three of us come on purpose for the game, you won't be so cantankerous as to spoil the party by sitting out.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#84. Give them a corrupt House of Lords, give them a venal House of Commons, give they a tyrannical Prince, give them a truckling court, and let me have but an unfettered press. I will defy them to encroach a hair's breadth upon the liberties of England.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#85. If I reprehend anything in this world, it is the use of my oracular tongue, and a nice derangement of epitaphs!
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#87. If to raise malicious smiles at the infirmities or misfortunes of those who have never injured us be the province of wit or humour, Heaven grant me a double portion of dullness.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#91. SNEER. But, what the deuce, is the confidante to be mad too?
PUFF. To be sure she is. The confidante is always to do whatever her mistress does- weep when she weeps, smile when she smiles, go mad when she goes mad.-Now, Madam Confidante! But keep your madness in the background, if you please.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#92. I open with a clock striking, to beget an awful attention in the audience - it also marks the time, which is four o clock in the morning, and saves a description of the rising sun, and a great deal about gilding the eastern hemisphere.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#94. Many a wretch has rid on a hurdle who has done less mischief than utterers of forged tales, coiners of scandal, and clippers of reputation.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#95. For if there is anything to one's praise, it is foolish vanity to be gratified at it, and if it is abuse - why one is always sure to hear of it from one damned good-natured friend or another!
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#97. If Parliament were to consider the sporting with reputation of as much importance as sporting on manors, and pass an act for the preservation of fame as well as game, there are many who would thank them for the bill.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#98. That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
#100. If the thought is slow to come, a glass of good wine encourages it; and when it does come, a glass of good wine rewards it.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
