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
He has spent all his life in letting down empty buckets into empty wells; and he is frittering away his age in trying to draw them up again. – Sydney Smith
He not only overflowed with learning, but stood in the slop. – Sydney Smith
Do not try to push your way through to the front ranks of your profession do not run after distinctions and rewards but do your utmost to find an entry into the world of beauty. – Sydney Smith
The criteria for serving ones country should be competence, courage and willingness to serve. When we deny people the chance to serve because of their sexual orientation, we deprive them of their rights of citizenship, and we deprive our armed forces the service of willing and capable Americans. – Dianne Feinstein
One of the greatest gifts my father gave me – unintentionally – was witnessing the courage with which he bore adversity. We had a bit of a rollercoaster life with some really challenging financial periods. He was always unshaken, completely tranquil, the same ebullient, laughing, jovial man. – Ben Okri