... I have always been a disappointment to my friends. I have no gift of talk, not much to say; and though I have always been an excellent listener, that only succeeds under auspicious circumstances. Margaret Oliphant More Quotes by Margaret Oliphant More Quotes From Margaret Oliphant It is so seldom in this world that things come just when they are wanted. Margaret Oliphant timingthis-worldworld Temptations come, as a general rule, when they are sought. Margaret Oliphant self-helptemptationinspirational One only says it is one's duty when one has something disagreeable to do. Margaret Oliphant disagreeableduty there are some people who never learn; indeed, few people learn by experience, so far as I have ever seen. Margaret Oliphant experiencepeople To have a man who can flirt is next thing to indispensable to a leader of society. Margaret Oliphant flirtyflirtingmen Oh, never mind the fashion. When one has a style of one's own, it is always twenty times better. Margaret Oliphant being-yourselfstylefashion I think reading a novel is almost next best to having something to do. Margaret Oliphant nextreadingthinking The middle of life is the testing-ground of character and strength. Margaret Oliphant middlelife-ischaracter It is often easier to justify one's self to others than to respond to the secret doubts that arise in one's own bosom. Margaret Oliphant selfsecretdoubt Laughing is not the first expression of joy. ... A person laughs in idleness, for fun, not for joy. Joy has nothing, nothing but the old way of tears. Margaret Oliphant expressionfunlaughing Good works may only be beautiful sins, if they are not done in a true spirit. Margaret Oliphant donekindnessbeautiful ... up to this date, I have never been shut up in a separate room, or hedged off with any observances. My study, all the study I have attained to, is the little 2nd drawing room where all the (feminine) life of the house goes on; and I don't think I have ever had two hours undisturbed (except at night, when everybody is in bed) during my whole literary life. Margaret Oliphant nighttwothinking The ideal is the flower-garden of the mind, and very apt to run to weeds unless carefully tended. Margaret Oliphant weedflowerrunning I have my own way of dividing people, as I suppose most of us have. There are those whom I can talk to, and those whom I can't. Margaret Oliphant dividingpeopleway All perfection is melancholy. Margaret Oliphant melancholyperfection Imagination is the first faculty wanting in those that do harm to their kind. Margaret Oliphant compassionimaginationfirsts There's looks as speaks as strong as words. Margaret Oliphant strongspeaklooks Somehow even a popular fallacy has an aspect of truth when it suits one's own case. Margaret Oliphant suitscasestruth There is nothing so costly as bargains. Margaret Oliphant shoppingbargains Many love me, but by none am I enough beloved. Margaret Oliphant belovedenough
