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Washington Irving Quotes

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Washington Irving was an American author known for his significant contributions to American literature. His works, including 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' and 'Rip Van Winkle', have had a profound impact on American literature.

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Famous Washington Irving Quotes

“In civilized life, where the happiness, and indeed almost the existence, of man depends so much upon the opinion of his fellow-men, he is constantly acting a studied part. The bold and peculiar traits of native character are refined away or softened down by the levelling influence of what is termed good-breeding, and he practises so many petty deceptions and affects so many generous sentiments for the purposes of popularity that it is difficult to distinguish his real from his artificial character.”

Source: The Complete Short Stories of Washington Irving: The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Bracebridge Hall, Tales of a Traveler, The Alhambra, Woolfert’s Roost & The Crayon Papers Collections (Illustrated): The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Rip Van Winkle, Old Christmas, The Voyage, Roscoe, The Widow’s Retinue, An Old Soldier, Mountjoy, Don Juan, Woolfert’s Roost, Tales of The Alhambra and many more

“There's nothing like being in fashion. A man that has once got his character up for a wit is always sure of a laugh, say what he may. He may utter as much nonsense as he pleases, and all will pass current. No one stops to question the coin of a rich man; but a poor devil cannot pass off either a joke or a guinea without its being examined on both sides. Wit and coin are always doubted with a threadbare coat.”

Men May Character Sides Poor Laughing Rich Fashion Please Jokes Devil Currents Wit Nonsense Coats Both Sides Coins Rich Man Doubted Guinea

Book:The Complete Tales of Washington Irving

Source: The Complete Tales of Washington Irving

“How idle a boast, after all, is the immortality of a name! Time is ever silently turning over his pages; we are too much engrossed by the story of the present to think of the character and anecdotes that gave interest to the past; and each age is a volume thrown aside and forgotten.”

Thinking Character Stories Age Past Names Interest Too Much Pages Forgotten Immortality Thrown Volume Idle Boast Anecdotes

Book:The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories

Source: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories

“There is a certain artificial polish, a commonplace vivacity acquired by perpetually mingling in the beau monde; which, in the commerce of world, supplies the place of natural suavity and good-humour, but is purchased at the expense of all original and sterling traits of character.”

World Character Certain Natural Humour Originals Expenses Artificial Traits Commerce Polish Commonplace Supplies E Commerce Sterling Mingling Vivacity Good Humour

Book:The works

Source: The works

“I was always fond of visiting new scenes, and observing strange characters and manners. Even when a mere child I began my travels, and made many tours of discovery into foreign parts and unknown regions of my native city, to the frequent alarm of my parents, and the emolument of the town-crier.”

Children Made Book Character Parent Cities Strange Scene Discovery Towns Mere Manners Native Regions Observing Alarms Visiting

Book:History of New York. Sketch book. Bracebridge Hall

Source: History of New York. Sketch book. Bracebridge Hall

“Washington, in fact, had very little private life, but was eminently a public character.”

Littles Character Facts Private Life

Book:Life of George Washington

Source: Life of George Washington

“The very difference of character in marriage produces a harmonious combination.”

Character Differences Produce Combination Harmonious Wedlock

Author:Washington Irving

“There is a healthful hardiness about real dignity that never dreads contact and communion with others however humble.”

Real Character Fear Dignity Humble Contact Dread Communion Personal Dignity Hardiness

Book:Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories

Source: Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories

“History fades into fable; fact becomes clouded with doubt and controversy; the inscription molders from the tablet: the statue falls from the pedestal. Columns, arches, pyramids, what are they but heaps of sand; and their epitaphs, but characters written in the dust?”

Source: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories From the Sketch Book

“There is no character in the comedy of human life more difficult to play well than that of an old bachelor.”

Humans Wells Play Character Difficult Comedy Human Life Bachelors

Book:The Complete Works of Washington Irving: Short Stories, Plays, Historical Works, Poetry and Autobiographical Writings (Illustrated): The Entire Opus of the Prolific American Writer, Biographer and Historian, Including The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Rip Van Winkle, The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Bracebridge Hall and many more

Source: The Complete Works of Washington Irving: Short Stories, Plays, Historical Works, Poetry and Autobiographical Writings (Illustrated): The Entire Opus of the Prolific American Writer, Biographer and Historian, Including The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Rip Van Winkle, The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Bracebridge Hall and many more