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Quote by Agnes Repplier

“the most comfortable characteristic of the period [1775-1825], and the one which incites our deepest envy, is the universal willingness to accept a good purpose as a substitute for good work.”

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Agnes Repplier

Agnes Repplier was an American essayist born on April 1, 1855, and died on November 15, 1950. Her works are renowned for their profound thoughts and unique style, which have had a profound impact on American literature in the 20th century. more

“Why do so many ingenious theorists give fresh reasons every year for the decline of letter writing, and why do they assume, in derision of suffering humanity, that it has declined? They lament the lack of leisure, the lack of sentiment ... They talk of telegrams, and telephones, and postal cards, as if any discovery of science, any device of civilization, could eradicate from the human heart that passion for self-expression which is the impelling force of letters.”

“[Mary Wortley Montagu] wrote more letters, with fewer punctuation marks, than any Englishwoman of her day; and her nephew, the fourth Baron Rokeby, nearly blinded himself in deciphering the two volumes of undated correspondence which were printed in 1810. Two more followed in 1813, after which the gallant Baron either died at his post or was smitten with despair; for sixty-eight cases of letters lay undisturbed ... 'Les morts n'écrivent point,' said Madame de Maintenon hopefully; but of what benefit is this inactivity, when we still continue to receive their letters?”

“There was no escape from the letter-writer who, a hundred or a hundred and twenty-five years ago, captured a coveted correspondent. It would have been as easy to shake off an octopus or a boa-constrictor.”

Years Has Beens Easy Five Hundred Years Ago Letters Twenties Five Years Shakes Captured Twenty Five Octopus

Book:A Happy Half-century: And Other Essays

Source: A Happy Half-century: And Other Essays

Quote by Agnes Repplier

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