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William Makepeace Thackeray

William Makepeace Thackeray Quotes

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Famous William Makepeace Thackeray Quotes

“How do men feel whose whole lives (and many men's lives are) are lies, schemes, and subterfuges? What sort of company do they keep when they are alone? Daily in life I watch men whose every smile is an artifice, and every wink is an hypocrisy. Doth such a fellow where a mask in his own privacy, and to his own conscience?”

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Book:Delphi Complete Works of William Makepeace Thackeray (Illustrated)
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“Forgotten tones of love recur to us, and kind glances shine out of the past--oh so bright and clear!--oh so longed after!--because they are out of reach; as holiday music from within a prison wall--or sunshine seen through the bars; more prized because unattainable--more bright because of the contrast of present darkness and solitude, whence there is no escape.”

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Book:The works of William Makepeace Thackeray
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“We love being in love, that's the truth on't. If we had not met Joan, we should have met Kate, and adored her. We know our mistresses are no better than many other women, nor no prettier, nor no wiser, nor no wittier. 'Tis not for these reasons we love a woman, or for any special quality or charm I know of; we might as well demand that a lady should be the tallest woman in the world, like the Shropshire giantess, as that she should be a paragon in any other character, before we began to love her.”

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Book:The history of Henry Esmond, esq
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“Happiest time of youth and life, when love is first spoken and returned; when the dearest eyes are daily shining welcome, and the fondest lips never tire of whispering their sweet secrets; when the parting look that accompanies "Good night!" gives delightful warning of tomorrow.”

LoveGivingFirstsLooksEyeNightLove IsSecretYouthSweetTomorrowShiningLipsWelcomeWarningDelightfulTirePartingWhisperingAccompanyGood Night
Book:The Works: In Twenty-two Volumes. ¬The Virginians : a tale of the last century ; vol. II
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“Those who are gone, you have. Those who departed loving you, love you still; and you love them always. They are not really gone, those dear hearts and true; they are only gone into the next room; and you will presently get up and follow them, and yonder door will close upon you, and you will be no more seen.”

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Book:Roundabout Papers: Easyread Large Bold Edition
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“Every man ought to be in love a few times in his life, and to have a smart attack of the fever. You are better for it when it is over: the better for your misfortune, if you endure it with a manly heart; how much the better for success, if you win it and a good wife into the bargain!”

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Book:The Book of Snobs: And, Sketches and Travels in London ; [Character Sketches]
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“That acknowledgment of weakness which we make in imploring to be relieved from hunger and from temptation is surely wisely put in our daily prayer. Think of it, you who are rich, and take heed how you turn a beggar away.”

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Book:Delphi Complete Works of William Makepeace Thackeray (Illustrated)
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“There are other books in a man's library besides Ovid, and after dawdling ever so long at a woman's knee, one day he gets up and is free. We have all been there; we have all had the fever--the strongest and the smallest, from Samson, Hercules, Rinaldo, downward: but it burns out, and you get well.”

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Book:The Book of Snobs: And, Sketches and Travels in London ; [Character Sketches]
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“Young ladies may have been crossed in love, and have had their sufferings, their frantic moments of grief and tears, their wakeful nights, and so forth; but it is only in very sentimental novels that people occupy themselves perpetually with that passion, and I believe what are called broken hearts are a very rare article indeed.”

PeopleBelieveHeartMayHas BeensMomentsYoungNightSufferingPassionI BelieveGriefNovelTearsBrokenDisappointmentArticlesSentimentalFranticYoung Ladies
Book:Delphi Complete Works of William Makepeace Thackeray (Illustrated)
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“A gentleman, is a rarer thing than some of us think for. Which of us can point out many such in his circle--men whose aims are generous, whose truth is constant and elevated; who can look the world honestly in the face, with an equal manly sympathy for the great and the small? We all know a hundred whose coats are well made, and a score who have excellent manners; but of gentlemen how many? Let us take a little scrap of paper, and each make out his list.”

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Author:William Makepeace Thackeray
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“How grateful are we--how touched a frank and generous heart is for a kind word extended to us in our pain! The pressure of a tender hand nerves a man for an operation, and cheers him for the dreadful interview with the surgeon.”

MenHeartKindHandsPainGratitudePressureGratefulOperationsGenerousInterviewsTouchedNervesCheerFrankSurgeonsKind WordsGenerous Heart
Book:Delphi Complete Works of William Makepeace Thackeray (Illustrated)
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“Perhaps there is no greater test of a man's regularity and easiness of conscience than his readiness to face the postman. Blessed is he who is made happy by the sound of a rat-tat! The good are eager for it; but the naughty tremble at the sound thereof.”

MenMadeFacesSoundGreaterConscienceLettersTestsBlessedRatsNaughtyReadinessRegularityPostmanEasiness
Book:The History of Pendennis: Christie's Collections
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“I suppose as long as novels last, and authors aim at interesting their public, there must always be in the story a virtuous and gallant hero; a wicked monster, his opposite; and a pretty girl, who finds a champion. Bravery and virtue conquer beauty; and vice, after seeming to triumph through a certain number of pages, is sure to be discomfited in the last volume, when justice overtakes him, and honest folks come by their own.”

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Book:The four Georges. The English humorists. Roundabout papers
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