At certain periods of life, we live years of emotion in a few weeks, and look back on those times as on great gaps between the old life and the new. William Makepeace Thackeray More Quotes by William Makepeace Thackeray More Quotes From William Makepeace Thackeray If people only made prudent marriages, what a stop to population there would be! William Makepeace Thackeray population would-be people To forego even ambition when the end is gained - who can say this is not greatness? William Makepeace Thackeray greatness ambition ends For his part, every beauty of art or nature made him thankful as well as happy, and that the pleasure to be had in listening to fine music, as in looking at the stars in the sky, or at a beautiful landscape or picture, was a benefit for which we might thank Heaven as sincerely as for any other worldly blessing. William Makepeace Thackeray stars beautiful art We know that Heaven chastens those whom it loves best; being pleased by repeated trials, to make . . . pure spirits more pure. William Makepeace Thackeray trials love heaven And in those varieties of pain of which we spoke anon, what a part of confidante has that poor teapot played ever since the kindly plant was introduced among us! What myriads of women have cried over it, to be sure! What sickbeds it has smoked by! What fevered lips have received refreshment from out of it! Nature meant very gently by women when she made that teaplant; and with a little thought what a series of pictures and groups the fancy may conjure up and assemble round the teapot and cup! William Makepeace Thackeray may tea littles What a dignity it gives an old lady, that balance at the bankers! How tenderly we look at her faults if she is a relative; what a kind, good-natured old creature we find her! William Makepeace Thackeray balance giving looks If you take temptations into account, who is to say that he is better than his neighbor? William Makepeace Thackeray accounts neighbor temptation The affection of young ladies is of as rapid growth as Jack's beanstalk, and reaches up to the sky in a night. William Makepeace Thackeray growth sky night Nature has written a letter of credit upon some men's faces that is honored wherever presented. You cannot help trusting such men. Their very presence gives confidence. There is promise to pay in their faces which gives confidence and you prefer it to another man's endorsement. Character is credit. William Makepeace Thackeray giving character men Pray, dear madam, another glass; it is Christmas time, it will do you no harm. William Makepeace Thackeray glasses christmas praying Novelty has charms that our minds can hardly withstand. William Makepeace Thackeray charm novelty mind Werther had a love for Charlotte Such as words could never utter; Would you know how first he met her? She was cutting bread and butter. William Makepeace Thackeray cutting bread love This Bouillabaisse a noble dish is - A sort of soup or broth, or brew, Or hotchpotch of all sorts of fishes, That Greenwich never could outdo; Green herbs, red peppers, mussels, saffron, Soles, onions, garlic, roach, and dace; All these you eat at Terre's tavern, In that one dish of Bouillabaisse. William Makepeace Thackeray roaches taverns cooking If, in looking at the lives of princes, courtiers, men of rank and fashion, we must perforce depict them as idle, profligate, and criminal, we must make allowances for the rich men's failings, and recollect that we, too, were very likely indolent and voluptuous, had we no motive for work, a mortal's natural taste for pleasure, and the daily temptation of a large income. What could a great peer, with a great castle and park, and a great fortune, do but be splendid and idle? William Makepeace Thackeray fashion temptation men Never lose a chance of saying a kind word. As Collingwood never saw a vacant place in his estate but he took an acorn out of his pocket and planted it, so deal with your compliments through life. An acorn costs nothing, but it may spread into a prodigious timber. William Makepeace Thackeray pockets cost kindness Come children, let us shut up the box and the puppets, for our play is played out. William Makepeace Thackeray childhood play children [As they say in the old legends]Before a man goes to the devil himself, he sends plenty of other souls thither. William Makepeace Thackeray devil soul men Tis hard with respect to Beauty, that its possessor should not have a life enjoyment of it, but be compelled to resign it after, at the most, some forty years lease William Makepeace Thackeray enjoy-life respect years How hard it is to make an Englishman acknowledge that he is happy! Pendennis. Book ii. Chap. xxxi. William Makepeace Thackeray chaps happiness book Successful people aren't born that way. They become successful by establishing the habit of doing things unsuccessful people don't like to do. The successful people don't always like these things themselves; they just get on and do them. William Makepeace Thackeray successful life people