Tobias Smollett Quotes

Deep in the frozen regions of the north,
A goddess violated brought thee forth,
Immortal Liberty!

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

True courage scorns to vent her prowess in a storm of words; and to the valiant action speaks alone.

Ridiculous modes, invented by ignorance, and adopted by folly.

Nature and wisdom are not, but should be, companions.

Writing is all a lottery — I have been a loser by the works of the greatest men of the age.

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.

Who bravely dares must sometimes risk a fall.

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.).

I think for my part one half of the nation is mad – and the other not very sound.

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.

False as the fowler’s artful snare.

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.

There is not room to swing a cat.

To the valiant actions speak alone.

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.

Some folks are wise and some are otherwise.

Opposition is the very spur of love.