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

—Sydney Smith

ignorance knowledge discretion

About Sydney Smith

Portrait of Sydney Smith

Sydney Smith (3 June 1771 – 22 February 1845) was an English writer and Anglican clergyman, mainly famous for his wit. Besides his energetic parochial work, he was known for his writing and philosophy, founding the Edinburgh Review, lecturing at the Royal Institution and his rhyming salad dressing recipe.

More quotations from Sydney Smith

There is one piece of advice, in a life of study, which I think no one will object to; and that is, every now and then to be completely idle—to do nothing at all.

—Sydney Smith

Live always in the best company when you read.

—Sydney Smith

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

—Sydney Smith

Your ignorance, cramps my conversation.

—Sydney Smith

ignorance conversation

Human beings cling to their delicious tyrannies and to their exquisite nonsense, till death stares them in the face.

—Sydney Smith

life death nonsense

More quotations tagged with “knowledge”

The truth hurts, sometimes, I suppose. But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be known.

—Trisha Leigh in Summer Ruins

truth knowledge

Too bad the only people who know how to run the country are busy driving cabs and cutting hair.

—George Burns

politics knowledge certainty leadership

The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty; not knowing what comes next.

—Ursula K. Le Guin

life future knowledge uncertainty

Science may set limits to knowledge, but should not set limits to imagination.

—Bertrand Russell

imagination knowledge science

Many who have spent a lifetime in love can tell you less of love than the child whose dog died yesterday.

—Thornton Wilder

love knowledge explanation

History

8 Sep 2013 Added