Quote#World
The history of the world shows us that men are not to be counted by…
Quote bySydney Smith · 1771–1845
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Elementary Sketches of Moral Philosophy (1849), Lecture XXVIL: On Habit - Part II, in “Elementary Sketches of Moral Philosophy”, delivered at The Royal Institution in the years 1804, 1805, and 1806 by the late Rev. Sydney Smith, M.A. (Spottiswoodes and Shaw (London: 1849)), p. 423-424.
English (original)
The history of the world shows us that men are not to be counted by their numbers, but by the fire and vigour of their passions
— Sydney Smith
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But now persecution is good, because it exists; every law which originated in ignorance and malice, and gratifies the passions from whence it sprang, we call the wisdom of our ancestors: when such laws are repealed, they will be cruelty …
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In the four quarters of the globe, who reads an American book? Or goes to an American play? or looks at an American picture or statue?