Richard Brinsley Sheridan - The Rivals

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Ay, ay, the best terms will grow obsolete: damns have had their day.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan
'Tis safest in matrimony to begin with a little aversion.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan
As there are three of us come on purpose for the game, you won't be so cantankerous as to spoil the party by sitting out.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan
I would by no means wish a daughter of mine to be a progeny of learning.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan
There is nothing on earth so easy as to forget, if a person chooses to set about it. I'm sure I have as much forgot your poor, dear uncle, as if he had never existed; and I thought it my duty to do so.

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
Though I never scruple a lie to serve my Master, it hurts one's conscience to be found out!

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
I'll make my old clothes know who's master. I shall straightaway cashier the hunting-frock, and render my leather breeches incapable. My hair has been in training some time.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan
The quarrel is a very pretty quarrel as it stands; we should only spoil it by trying to explain it.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan
You're our enemy; lead the way, and we 'll precede.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan
She's as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile.
Mrs Malaprop speaking

Richard Brinsley Sheridan
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
No caparisons, Miss, if you please!—Caparisons don't become a young woman.
Mrs Malaprop speaking

Richard Brinsley Sheridan
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
If I reprehend anything in this world, it is the use of my oracular tongue, and a nice derangement of epitaphs!

Richard Brinsley Sheridan
You are not like Cerberus, three gentlemen at once, are you?

Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Mrs. Malaprop: Illiterate him, I say, quite from your memory.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan
If I reprehend any thing in this world, it is the use of my oracular tongue, and a nice derangement of epitaphs!

Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Through all the drama — whether damned or not —
Love gilds the scene, and women guide the plot.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan
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
My valour is certainly going!—it is sneaking off!—I feel it oozing out as it were at the palms of my hands!

Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Modesty is a quality in a lover more praised by the women than liked.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Madam, a circulating library in a town is as an evergreen tree of diabolical knowledge; it blossoms throughout the year.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan
We will not anticipate the past; so mind, young people,—our retrospection will be all to the future.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan