Tobias Smollett Quotes

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  • The capital is become an overgrown monster; which, like a dropsical head, will in time leave the body and extremities without nourishment and support.

    Time   Support   Monsters  
    'The Expedition of Humphry Clinker' (1771) vol. 1, letter from Matthew Bramble, 29 May
  • There is not room to swing a cat.

    Cat   Swings   Rooms  
  • Thy fatal shafts unerring move; I bow before thine altar, Love!

    Life   Moving   Bows  
    Tobias Smollett (1824). “The adventures of Roderick Random”, p.298
  • I think for my part one half of the nation is mad - and the other not very sound.

    Thinking   Mad   Sound  
    'The Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves' (1762) ch. 6
  • Writing is all a lottery -- I have been a loser by the works of the greatest men of the age.

    Writing   Men   Age  
    Tobias Smollett, Sir Walter Scott (1835). “Select works of Tobias Smollett ...: With a memoir of the life and writings of the author”, p.312
  • Deep in the frozen regions of the north, A goddess violated brought thee forth, Immortal Liberty!

    Tobias Smollett, John Moore (1872). “The Works of Tobias Smollett, M. D. With Memoirs of His Life: to which is Prefixed A View of the Commencement and Progress of Romance”, p.334
  • And hearts resolved and hands prepared The blessings they enjoy to guard.

    Heart   Blessing   Hands  
    Samuel Johnson, Thomas Parnell, Thomas Gray, Tobias Smollett, George Gilfillan (1855). “The Poetical Works of Johnson: Parnell, Gray, and Smollett, with Memoirs, Critical Dissertations, and Explanatory Notes”, p.245
  • One wit, like a knuckle of ham in soup, gives a zest and flavour to the dish, but more than one serves only to spoil the pottage.

    Zest   Giving   Ham  
    Tobias Smollett (1820). “The expedition of Humphry Clinker”, p.161
  • Some folks are wise and some are otherwise.

    Sarcastic   Wise   Wisdom  
    Tobias Smollett, Sir Walter Scott (1835). “Select works of Tobias Smollett ...: With a memoir of the life and writings of the author”, p.24
  • Opposition is the very spur of love.

  • A man's opinion of danger varies at different times, in consequence of an irregular tide of animal spirits; and he is actuated by considerations which he dares not avow.

    Animal   Men   Different  
    Tobias Smollett (1822). “The History of England: From the Revolution in 1688, to the Death of George II. Designed as a Continuation of Hume”, p.184
  • A mere index hunter, who held the eel of science by the tail.

    Science   Eels   Hunters  
    Tobias George Smollett, Tobias Smollett (1831). “The adventures of Peregrine Pickle: In which are included, Memoirs of a lady of quality. In four volumes. ...”, p.246
  • Nature and wisdom are not, but should be, companions.

  • On Leven's banks, while free to rove, And tune the rural pipe to love, I envied not the happiest swain That ever trod the Arcadian plain. Pure stream! in whose transparent wave My youthful limbs I wont to lave; No torrents stain thy limpid source, No rocks impede thy dimpling course, That sweetly warbles o'er its bed, With white, round, polish'd pebbles spread.

    Rocks   White   Bed  
    Tobias Smollett (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Tobias Smollett (Illustrated)”, p.2159, Delphi Classics
  • Glory is the child of peril.

    Children   Glory   Peril  
  • Thy spirit, Independence, let me share! Lord of the lion-heart and eagle-eye thy steps I follow with my bosom bare, nor heed the storm that howls along the sky.

    Heart   Eye   Eagles  
    Tobias Smollett (1806). “Life of Smollett, by R. Anderson. Roderick Random”, p.163
  • A mere index hunter, who held the eel of science by the tail. Index-hunter is a term used mockingly, meaning one who acquires superficial knowledge merely by consulting indexes. The '[holding] the eel of science by the tail' allusion was used in 1728 by Alexander Pope (q.v.).

  • The bread I eat in London, is a deleterious paste, mixed up with chalk, alum, and bone ashes: insipid to the taste, and destructive to the constitution.

    Ashes   London   Taste  
    Tobias Smollett (1808). “The expedition of Humphry Clinker. By the author of Roderic Random”, p.143
  • I find that the old Roman baths of this quarter, were found covered by an old burying ground, belonging to the Abbey; through which, in all probability, the water drains in its passage; so that as we drink the decoction of the living bodies at the Pump-room, we swallow the strainings of rotten bones and carcasses at the private bath - I vow to God, the very idea turns my stomach!

    Ideas   Water   Rotten  
    Tobias Smollett (1809). “The Miscellaneous Works of Tobias Smollett: Sir Launcelot Greaves. Humphry Clinker”
  • The great Cham of literature. (Samuel Johnson)

    Letter to John Wilkes, 16 Mar. 1759
  • The Highlanders regale themselves with whisky. They find it an excellent preservation against the winter cold. It is given with great success to the infants in the confluent smallpox.

    Food   Winter   Cooking  
  • Of this diversion the Scots are so fond, that, when the weather will permit, you may see a multitude of all ranks, from the senator of justice to the lowest tradesman, mingled together, in their shirts, and following the balls with utmost eagerness.

    Golf   Weather   Justice  
    Tobias Smollett (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Tobias Smollett (Illustrated)”, p.2137, Delphi Classics
  • True courage scorns to vent her prowess in a storm of words; and to the valiant action speaks alone.

    Storm   Action   Speak  
    Tobias Smollett, John Moore (1872). “The Works of Tobias Smollett, M. D. With Memoirs of His Life: to which is Prefixed A View of the Commencement and Progress of Romance”, p.189
  • Who bravely dares must sometimes risk a fall.

    Tobias Smollett (2014). “Poems, Plays, and "The Briton"”, p.36, University of Georgia Press
  • Ridiculous modes, invented by ignorance, and adopted by folly.

    Tobias Smollett (1806). “Adventures of an Atom. Expedition of Humphrey Clinker”, p.363
  • To the valiant actions speak alone.

    Action   Speak   Valiant  
    Tobias Smollett, John Moore (1872). “The Works of Tobias Smollett, M. D. With Memoirs of His Life: to which is Prefixed A View of the Commencement and Progress of Romance”, p.189
  • False as the fowler's artful snare.

    Samuel Johnson, Thomas Parnell, Thomas Gray, Tobias Smollett, George Gilfillan (1855). “The Poetical Works of Johnson: Parnell, Gray, and Smollett, with Memoirs, Critical Dissertations, and Explanatory Notes”, p.251
  • Every shot has its commission, d'ye see? We must all die at one time, as the saying is.

    War   Shots   One Time  
    Tobias Smollett, Robert Anderson (1820). “The Miscellaneous Works of Tobias Smollett, M.D.: The adventures of Peregrine Pickle, pt. 2. Plays and poems”, p.495
  • Number three is always fortunate.

    Tobias George Smollett, Tobias Smollett (1831). “The adventures of Peregrine Pickle: In which are included, Memoirs of a lady of quality. In four volumes. ...”, p.58
  • Nature I'll court in her sequester'd haunts, By mountain, meadow, streamlet, grove, or cell; Where the pois'd lark his evening ditty chants, And health, and peace, and contemplation dwell.

    Tobias Smollett (1806). “The Miscellaneous Works of Tobias Smollett, M. D.”, p.512
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