Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816) was an Irish-born dramatist and politician. An active Member of Parliament for more than 30 years, he was one of the most brilliant orators of his generation. He was also immensely popular as an author who created such memorable characters as Mrs. Malaprop—who gave her name to the word “malapropism,” and who was fond of saying, “He is the very pineapple of politeness.”
Sheridan was born in Dublin. His family relocated to England when he was seven years old. His mother was a playwright and his father an actor who wrote books about teaching English.
Before entering parliament, Sheridan wrote his witty plays lampooning English manners and the aristocracy, including The Rivals (1775,) The Duenna (1775,) The School for Scandal (1777,) and The Critic (1779.) The Rivals, a Romantic comedy known for its witty dialogue, was a favorite of President George Washington.
As a Whig Member of Parliament, Sheridan served as secretary of the treasury, treasurer of the navy, and member of the Privy Council. He supported the American Revolution, but couldn’t win over enough opposition to King George III’s declaration of war against the colonies.
After 32 years in Parliament, Sheridan lost his run for reelection and spent the last years of his life in poverty, triggered partially by losses incurred from his investments in London’s Drury Lane theatre. He is buried in the Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey along with Geoffrey Chaucer and Edmund Spenser.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Believe that story false that ought not to be true.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Satires and lampoons on particular people circulate more by giving copies in confidence to the friends of the parties, than by printing them.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Tale bearers are just as bad as tale makers.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Gossip
When of a gossiping circle it was asked, What are they doing? The answer was, Swapping lies.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Gossip
A life spent worthily should be measured by deeds, not years.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Deeds
A man may surely be allowed to take a glass of wine by his own fireside.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Wine
I open with a clock striking, to beget an awful attention in the audience—it also marks the time, which is four o clock in the morning, and saves a description of the rising sun, and a great deal about gilding the eastern hemisphere.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Theater
The surest way to fail is not to determine to succeed.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Failure
Pity those who nature abuses; never those who abuse nature.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Nature, Sympathy
The Right Honourable Gentleman is indebted to his memory for his jests, and to his imagination for his facts.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Humor, Memory
Here, my dear Lucy, hide these books. Quick, quick! Fling “Peregrine Pickle” under the toilette—throw “Roderick Random” into the closet—put “The Innocent Adultery” into “The Whole Duty of Man” thrust “Lord Aimworth” under the sofa! cram “Ovid” behind the bolster; there—put “The Man of Feeling” into your pocket. Now for them.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Reading
Take care; you know I am compliance itself, when I am not thwarted! No one more easily led, when I have my own way; but don’t put me in a frenzy.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Temper, Anger
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!
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Modesty is a quality in a lover more praised by the women than liked.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Humility, Modesty
You know it is not my interest to pay the principal, or my principal to pay the interest.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Debt
My valor is certainly going, it is sneaking off! I feel it oozing out as it were, at the palms of my hands!
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Cowardice, Coward
Wit loses its respect with the good, when seen in company with malice; and to smile at the jest which places a thorn in another’s breast, is to become a principal in the mischief.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Wit
Darkness is fled.—Now flowers unfold their beauties to the sun, and blushing, kiss the beam he sends to wake them.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Morning
Easy writings curse is hard reading.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Writing, Writers, Authors & Writing
Women govern us; let us try to render them more perfect. The more they are enlightened, so much the more we shall be. On the cultivation of the minds of women, depends the wisdom of man.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Woman
Ay, ay, the best terms will grow obsolete: damns have had their day.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Vulgarity, Profanity, Swearing
For if there is anything to one’s praise, it is foolish vanity to be gratified at it, and if it is abuse—why one is always sure to hear of it from one damned good-natured friend or another!
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Critics, Criticism
Remember that when you meet your antagonist, to do everything in a mild agreeable manner. Let your courage be keen, but, at the same time, as polished as your sword.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Conflict
Steal! to be sure they may, and, egad, serve your best thoughts as gipsies do stolen children—disfigure them to make them pass for their own.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Plagiarism
Conscience has no more to do with gallantry than it has with politics.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Conscience
Many a wretch had rid on a hurdle who has done much less mischief than utterers of forged tales, coiners of scandal, and clippers of reputation.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Those that vow the most are the least sincere.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Sincerity
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.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Hate
The surest way not to fail is to determine to succeed.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Success
‘Tis safest in matrimony to begin with a little aversion.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Marriage
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
C. S. Lewis Irish-born Author, Scholar
William Shakespeare British Playwright
Dorothy L. Sayers English Novelist, Playwright
Dodie Smith British Novelist
Graham Greene British Novelist
George Bernard Shaw Irish Playwright
William Congreve English Dramatist
Winston Churchill British Head of State
Clare Boothe Luce American Playwright
J. B. Priestley British Novelist, Playwright, Essayist