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Quote#Wisdom

Every rock in the ocean where a cormorant can perch is occupied by…

Quote bySydney Smith · 1771–1845

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: "Catholics", published in The Edinburgh Review (1827). See.

English (original)

Every rock in the ocean where a cormorant can perch is occupied by our troops — has a governor, deputy-governor, storekeeper, and deputy-storekeeper — and will soon have an archdeacon and a bishop. Military colleges, with thirty-four professors, educating seventeen ensigns per annum, being half an ensign for each professor, with every species of nonsense, athletic, sartorial, and plumigerous.

— Sydney Smith

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