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Samuel Richardson Quotes

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Samuel Richardson (August 19, 1689 - July 4, 1761) was an 18th-century English writer, widely regarded as one of the founders of the modern English novel. Born in London during the reign of James II, he initially worked in book printing and publishing before turning to writing. Richardson's major works include 'Pamela,' 'Clarissa,' and 'Sir Charles Grandison,' which are renowned for their psychological depth and vivid character development. He pioneered the use of diary and epistolary formats, allowing readers intimate access to characters' inner worlds. His novels were immensely popular in their time and significantly influenced the development of the novel form, particularly in psychological characterization and social commentary. Richardson's focus on moral instruction and feminine virtue reflected 18th-century English societal values.

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Famous Samuel Richardson Quotes

“The longer a woman remains single, the more apprehensive she will be of entering into the state of wedlock. At seventeen or eighteen, a girl will plunge into it, sometimes without either fear or wit; at twenty, she will begin to think; at twenty-four, will weigh and discriminate; at twenty-eight, will be afraid of venturing; at thirty, will turn about, and look down the hill she has ascended, and sometimes rejoice, sometimes repent, that she has gained that summit sola.”

Thinking Looks Sometimes States Turns Girl Women Marriage Four Twenties Remains Eight Wit Hills Thirty Rejoice Entering Repent Summit Eighteen Plunge Seventeen Wedlock

Author:Samuel Richardson

“Twenty-four is a prudent age for women to marry at.”

Age Women Marriage Four Twenties Prudent

Book:A collection of the moral and instructive sentiments, maxims, cautions, and reflexions, contained in the histories of Pamela, Clarissa, and Sir Charles Grandison: Digested under proper heads, with references to the volume, ...

Source: A collection of the moral and instructive sentiments, maxims, cautions, and reflexions, contained in the histories of Pamela, Clarissa, and Sir Charles Grandison: Digested under proper heads, with references to the volume, ...

“If women would make themselves appear as elegant to an Husband, as they were desirous to appear to him while a Lover, the Rake, which all women love, would last longer in the Husband than it generally does.”

Ifs Doe Lasts Marriage Wife Lovers Husband Elegant Rakes

“Marriage is a state that is attended with so much care and trouble, that it is a kind of faulty indulgence and selfishness to livesingle, in order to avoid the difficulties it is attended with.”

Kind States Care Order Marriage Trouble Difficulty Selfishness Indulgence

Author:Samuel Richardson

“Marriage is the highest state of friendship. If happy, it lessens our cares by dividing them, at the same time that it doubles our pleasures by mutual participation.”

Ifs Inspirational States Care Pleasure Marriage Highest Mutual Participation Dividing

Book:Clarissa Harlowe, or The History of a Young Lady - Complete

Source: Clarissa Harlowe, or The History of a Young Lady - Complete

“Love before marriage is absolutely necessary.”

Love Is Marriage Before Marriage

Book:Virtue rewarded: in a series of letters, from a beautiful young lady to her parents. A narrative

Source: Virtue rewarded: in a series of letters, from a beautiful young lady to her parents. A narrative

“Let a man do what he will by a single woman, the world is encouragingly apt to think Marriage a sufficient amends.”

Thinking Men World Marriage Sufficient Single Women Amends