Richard Brinsley Sheridan Quotes

He is the very pineapple of politeness.

Here 's to the maiden of bashful fifteen; Here 's to the widow of fifty; Here 's to the flaunting, extravagant queen, And here 's to the housewife that 's thrifty! Let the toast pass; Drink to the lass; I 'll warrant she 'll prove an excuse for the glass.

A circulating library in a town is as an evergreen tree of diabolical knowledge.

When of a gossiping circle it was asked, "What are they doing?" The answer was, "Swapping lies.

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.

Nay, but Jack, such eyes! such eyes! so innocently wild! so bashfully irresolute! Not a glance but speaks and kindles some thought of love! Then, Jack, her cheeks! her cheeks, Jack! so deeply blushing at the insinuations of her tell-tale eyes! Then, Jack, her lips! O, Jack, lips smiling at their own discretion! and, if not smiling, more sweetly pouting - more lovely in sullenness! Then, Jack, her neck! O, Jack, Jack!

An aspersion upon my parts of speech!

Won't you come into the garden? I would like my roses to see you.

A bumper of good liquor Will end a contest quicker Than justice, judge or vicar.

An unforgiving eye, and a damned disinheriting countenance!

Fertilizer does no good in a heap, but a little spread around works miracles all over.

Never say more than is necessary.

The surest way not to fail is to determine to succeed.

She's as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile.

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.

Easy writing's curst hard reading.

Do thou snatch treasures from my lips, and I'll take kingdoms back from thine.

There's only one truth about war: people die.

An apothecary should never be out of spirits.

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.

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.

For in religion as in friendship, they who profess most are ever the least sincere.

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.

Justice-august and pure, the abstract idea of all that would be perfect in the spirits and the inspirations of men!-where the mind rises; where the heart expands; where the countenance is ever placid and benign; where her favorite attitude is to stoop to the unfortunate; to hear their cry and to help them; to rescue and relieve; to succor and save; majestic, from its mercy; venerable, from its Lutility; uplifted, without pride; firm without obduracy; beneficent in each preference; lovely, though in her frown!

There's no possibility of being witty without a little ill-nature - the malice of a good thing is the barb that makes it stick.

A man may surely be allowed to take a glass of wine by his own fireside.

A wise woman will always let her husband have her way.

Happiness is an exotic of celestial birth.

The heart that is conscious of its own integrity is ever slow to credit another´s treachery.

I leave my character behind me.

It is by women that nature writes on the hearts of men.

An oyster may be crossed in love.

The number of those who undergo the fatigue of judging for themselves is very small indeed.

I'm called away by particular business - but I leave my character behind me

Death's a debt; his mandamus binds all alike- no bail, no demurrer.

Modesty is a quality in a lover more praised by the women than liked.

I would by no means wish a daughter of mine to be a progeny of learning.

There is not a passion so strongly rooted in the human heart as envy.

To smile at the jest which plants a thorn in another's breast is to become a principal in the mischief.

Be just before you are generous.

Those that vow the most are the least sincere.

Conscience has no more to do with gallantry than it has with politics.

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.

You write with ease, to show your breeding, But easy writing's vile hard reading.

Through all the drama - whether damned or not - Love gilds the scene, and women guide the plot.

There is nothing on earth so easy as to forget, if a person chooses to set about it. I'm sure I have as much forgot your poor, dear uncle, as if he had never existed; and I thought it my duty to do so.

Nothing keeps me in such awe as perfect beauty; now, there is something consoling and encouraging in ugliness.

Pity those whom nature abuses, never those who abuse nature.

The Right Honourable gentleman is indebted to his memory for his jests, and to his imagination for his facts.

'Tis safest in matrimony to begin with a little aversion.