People are never so near playing the fool as when they think themselves wise. Mary Wortley Montagu More Quotes by Mary Wortley Montagu More Quotes From Mary Wortley Montagu Civility costs nothing, and buys everything. Mary Wortley Montagu civility cost behaviour People wish their enemies dead - but I do not; I say give them the gout, give them the stone! Mary Wortley Montagu giving people enemy It was formerly a terrifying view to me that I should one day be an old woman. I now find that Nature has provided pleasures for every state. Mary Wortley Montagu pleasure one-day views I am afraid we are little better than straws upon the water; we may flatter ourselves that we swim, when the current carries us along. Mary Wortley Montagu fate swim water My chief study all my life has been to lighten misfortunes and multiply pleasures, as far as human nature can. Mary Wortley Montagu human-nature pleasure study Take back the beauty and wit you bestow upon me; leave me my own mediocrity of agreeableness and genius, but leave me also my sincerity, my constancy, and my plain dealing; 'Tis all I have to recommend me to the esteem either of others or myself. Mary Wortley Montagu mediocrity genius beauty No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting. Mary Wortley Montagu library reading book There is no remedy so easy as books, which if they do not give cheerfulness, at least restore quiet to the most troubled mind. Mary Wortley Montagu writing giving book I prefer liberty to chains of diamonds. Mary Wortley Montagu women liberty memorable Gardening is certainly the next amusement to reading. Mary Wortley Montagu amusement gardening reading We are no more free agents than the queen of clubs when she victoriously takes prisoner the knave of hearts. Mary Wortley Montagu destiny queens heart Whoever will cultivate their own mind will find full employment. Every virtue does not only require great care in the planting, but as much daily solicitude in cherishing as exotic fruits and flowers; the vices and passions (which I am afraid are the natural product of the soil) demand perpetual weeding. Add to this the search after knowledge. . . and the longest life is too short. Mary Wortley Montagu weed flower life Philosophy is the toil which can never tire persons engaged in it. All ways are strewn with roses, and the farther you go, the more enchanting objects appear before you and invite you on. Mary Wortley Montagu toil rose philosophy We are apt to consider Shakespeare only as a poet; but he was certainly one of the greatest moral philosophers that ever lived. Mary Wortley Montagu philosopher moral poet While conscience is our friend, all is at peace; however once it is offended, farewell to a tranquil mind. Mary Wortley Montagu inspirational peace funny Miserable is the fate of writers: if they are agreeable, they are offensive; and if dull, they starve. Mary Wortley Montagu offensive fate dull It's all been very interesting. Mary Wortley Montagu last-words dying interesting We are educated in the grossest ignorance, and no art omitted to stifle our natural reason; if some few get above their nurses instructions, our knowledge must rest concealed and be as useless to the world as gold in the mine. Mary Wortley Montagu women ignorance art Solitude begets whimsies. Mary Wortley Montagu whimsy begets solitude It's in no way my interest (according to the common acceptance of that word) to convince the world of their errors; that is, I shall get nothing from it but the private satisfaction of having done good to mankind, and I know nobody that reckons that satisfaction any part of their interest. Mary Wortley Montagu errors done acceptance
