Who said “Among the smaller duties of life I hardly know any one more important than that of not…”?

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Sydney Smith. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceLecture IX : On the Conduct of the Understanding

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“Among the smaller duties of life I hardly know any one more important than that of not praising where praise is not due.”
— Sydney Smith
VerifiedLecture IX : On the Conduct of the Understanding · evidencePraise

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Lecture IX : On the Conduct of the Understanding.

APA

Smith, S. (n.d.). Among the smaller duties of life I hardly know any one more important than that of not praising where praise is not due. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/28690-among-the-smaller-duties-of-life-i-hardly/

MLA

Smith, Sydney. “Among the smaller duties of life I hardly know any one more important than that of not praising where praise is not due.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/28690-among-the-smaller-duties-of-life-i-hardly/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Smith, Sydney. “Among the smaller duties of life I hardly know any one more important than that of not praising where praise is not due.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/28690-among-the-smaller-duties-of-life-i-hardly/.

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VerifiedLady Holland's Memoir (1855), Vol. II, letter to Miss Lucie Austin (22 July 1835), p. 364 · evidenceDetails & citeMathematics
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