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
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
Ay, ay, the best terms will grow obsolete: damns have had their day.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Profanity, Swearing, Vulgarity
You know it is not my interest to pay the principal, or my principal to pay the interest.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Debt
That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Age, Aging
There is a set of malicious, prating, prudent gossips, both male and female, who murder characters to kill time; and will rob a young fellow of his good name before he has years to know the value of it.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Gossip
When delicate and feeling souls are separated, there is not a feature in the sky, not a movement of the elements, not an aspiration of the breeze, but hints some cause for a lover’s apprehension.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Aspirations, Absence
Our ancestors are very good kind of folks, but they are the last people I should choose to have a visiting acquaintance with.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Ancestors
The surest way to fail is not to determine to succeed.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Failure
A life spent worthily should be measured by deeds, not years.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Deeds
They only babble who practise not reflection.—I shall think; and thought is silence.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Reflection
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
An unforgiving eye, and a damned disinheriting countenance!
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Fathers, Father
‘Tis safest in matrimony to begin with a little aversion.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Marriage
Believe that story false that ought not to be true.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
The surest way not to fail is to determine to succeed.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Success
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
I would by no means wish a daughter of mine to be a progeny of learning; I don’t think so much learning becomes a young woman: for instance, I would never let her meddle with Greek, or Hebrew, or algebra, or simony, or fluxions, or paradoxes, or such inflammatory branches of learning; nor will it be necessary for her to handle any of your mathematical, astronomical, diabolical instruments; but… I would send her, at nine years old, to a boarding-school, in order to learn a little ingenuity and artifice: then, sir, she would have a supercilious knowledge in accounts, and, as she grew up, I would have her instructed in geometry, that she might know something of the contagious countries: this is what I would have a woman know; and I don’t think there is a superstitious article in it.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Learning
Modesty is a quality in a lover more praised by the women than liked.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Humility, Modesty
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
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: Coward, Cowardice
He is the very pineapple of politeness!
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Manners
Madam, a circulating library in a town is as an evergreen tree of diabolical knowledge; it blossoms through the year. And depend on it that they who are so fond of handling the leaves, will long for the fruit at last.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Libraries
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
Those that vow the most are the least sincere.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Sincerity
Conscience has no more to do with gallantry than it has with politics.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Conscience
A man may surely be allowed to take a glass of wine by his own fireside.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Topics: Wine
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
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
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
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
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