I am none of those nonsensical fools that can whine and make romantic love--I leave that to younger brothers. Let my estate speakfor me. Sarah Fielding More Quotes by Sarah Fielding More Quotes From Sarah Fielding The words of kindness are more healing to a drooping heart than balm or honey. Sarah Fielding healingkindnessinspirational Tis this desire of bending all things to our own purposes which turns them into confusion and is the chief source of every error in our lives. Sarah Fielding errorsconfusiondesire I often used to think myself in the case of the fox-hunter, who, when he had toiled and sweated all day in the chase as if some unheard-of blessing was to crown his success, finds at last all he has got by his labor is a stinking nauseous animal. But my condition was yet worse than his; for he leaves the loathsome wretch to be torn by his hounds, whilst I was obliged to fondle mine, and meanly pretend him to be the object of my love. Sarah Fielding marriageblessingthinking Flattery in courtship is the highest insolence, for whilst it pretends to bestow on you more than you deserve, it is watching an opportunity to take from you what you really have. Sarah Fielding insolenceflatteryopportunity Thoroughly to unfold the labyrinths of the human mind is an arduous task.... In order to dive into those recesses and lay them open to the reader in a striking and intelligible manner, 'tis necessary to assume a certain freedom in writing, not strictly perhaps within the limits prescribed by rules. Sarah Fielding mindwritingorder Men look on knowledge which they learn--or might learn--from others as they do on the most beautiful structures which are not their own: in outward objects, they would rather behold their own hogsty than their neighbor's palace; and in mental ones, would prefer one grain of knowledge gained by their own observation to all the wisdom of a thousand Solomons. Sarah Fielding beautifulmenlooks The motives to actions and the inward turns of mind seem in our opinion more necessary to be known than the actions themselves; and much rather would we choose that our reader should clearly understand what our principal actors think than what they do. Sarah Fielding inwardmindthinking I know not whether it would be too bold an assertion to say that candor makes capacity.... But in order to try the truth of any observation relating to the mind, the easiest method is to illustrate it by outward objects. If, for instance, a man was to sweat and labor all the days of his life to fill a chest which was already full, the absurdity of his vain endeavor would be glaring. In the same manner, when the human mind is filled and stuffed with notions brought thither by fallacious inclinations, there is no room for truth to enter: candor being banished, passions alone bear the sway. Sarah Fielding passioneducationmen Agreeable then to my present inclination, I formed the object of my own worship, which was no other than my own understanding. Sarah Fielding vanityselfeducation [F]or women, like tradesmen, draw in the injudicious to buy their goods by the high value they themselves set upon them.... They endeavor strongly to fix in the minds of their enamoratos their own high value, and then contrive as much as possible to make them believe that they have so many purchasers at hand that the goods--if they do not make haste--will all be gone. Sarah Fielding marriagemenbelieve I endeavor not to conceal that I believe there is a great mixture of desire in the passion which is called love--or rather, without any far-fetched strain on words, it may be called the companion of love. Sarah Fielding passionlovebelieve Little miss is taught by her mamma that she must never speak before she is spoken to. On this she sits bridling up her head, looking from one to the other, in hopes of being called to and addressed by the name of pretty miss.... But if this should not happen and no one should take any notice of her, she is ready to cry at the neglect. But should there be another miss in the room caressed and taken notice of whilst she is thus overlooked, it will be impossible for her to contain her tears, and blubbering is the word. Sarah Fielding takennameseducation I believe no gentleman would like to have his family affairs neglected because his wife was filling her head with crotchets and pothooks, and who, because she understood a few scraps of Latin, valued that more than minding her needle or providing her husband's dinner. Sarah Fielding marriagehusbandlatin I was amongst the virtues like the great Turk in his seraglio of women, and I chose to dwell with that virtue which looked the fairest in my eyes and gave me at that season most pleasure. In short, I made wives of them: I first admired them, then made them my own property, and if they would not submit to my will, I again turned them off and divorced them. Sarah Fielding vanitywifeeye Their virtues lived in their children. The family changed its persons but not its manners, and they continued a blessing to the world from generation to generation. Sarah Fielding generationsblessingchildren But in all things whether we shall make only a due use of the liberties we have asked, is left entirely to the judicious reader to decide. Sarah Fielding libertyreaderuse [T]he judicious reader ought to know what the chief character in any work of the imagination will naturally perform, according to the situation he is thrown into, as well as doth the author himself. Sarah Fielding chiefsimaginationcharacter There appears to be but two grand master passions or movers in the human mind, namely, love and pride. And what constitutes the beauty or deformity of a man's character is the choice he makes under which banner he determines to enlist himself. But there is a strong distinction between different degress in the same thing and a mixture of two contraries. Sarah Fielding passionstrongcharacter I had some short struggle in my mind whether I should resign my lover or my liberty, but this lasted not long. I found myself as free as air and could not bear the thought of putting myself in any man's power for life only from a present capricious inclination. Sarah Fielding womenmarriagestruggle If modesty and candor are necessary to an author in his judgment of his own works, no less are they in his reader. Sarah Fielding candormodestyjudgment
