When the mind is full of any one subject, that subject seems to recur with extraordinary frequency - it appears to pursue or to meet us at every turn: in every conversation that we hear in every book we open, in every newspaper we take up, the reigning idea recurs; and then we are surprised, and exclaim at these wonderful coincidences.

Maria Edgeworth

Categorized in : Ideas Book Mind

Those who are animated by hope can perform what would seem impossibilities to those who are under the depressing influence of fear.

Maria Edgeworth

depressing anticipation inspirational

The human heart, at whatever age, opens to the heart that opens in return.

Maria Edgeworth

heart love life

If young women were not deceived into a belief that affectation pleases, they would scarcely trouble themselves to practise it so much.

Maria Edgeworth

trouble belief young

What a misfortune it isto be bornawoman!? Why seek for knowledge, which can prove only that our wretchedness is irremediable? If a ray of light break in upon us, it is but to make darkness more visible; to show usthenew limits, the Gothic structure, theimpenetrable barriers of our prison.

Maria Edgeworth

rays light darkness

In real friendship the judgment, the genius, the prudence of each party become the common property of both.

Maria Edgeworth

party real friendship

Persons not habituated to reason often argue absurdly, because, from particular instances, they deduce general conclusions, and extend the result of their limited experience of individuals indiscriminately to whole classes.

Maria Edgeworth

reason arguing class

wit is often its own worst enemy.

Maria Edgeworth

wit worst-enemy enemy

Promises are dangerous things to ask or to give.

Maria Edgeworth

dangerous giving promise

Nature knows best, and she says, roar!

Maria Edgeworth

pain knows

Surely it is much more generous to forgive and remember, than to forgive and forget.

Maria Edgeworth

forgive-and-forget forgiveness forgiving

An orator is the worse person to tell a plain fact.

Maria Edgeworth

speech persons facts

Nor elves, nor fays, nor magic charm, Have pow'r, or will, to work us harm; For those who dare the truth to tell, Fays, elves, and fairies, wish them well.

Maria Edgeworth

magic fairy wish

My mother took too much, a great deal too much, care of me; she over-educated, over-instructed, over-dosed me with premature lessons of prudence: she was so afraid that I should ever do a foolish thing, or not say a wise one, that she prompted my every word, and guided my every action. So I grew up, seeing with her eyes, hearing with her ears, and judging with her understanding, till, at length, it was found out that I had not eyes, ears or understanding of my own.

Maria Edgeworth

eye wise mother

Hope can produce the finest and most permanent springs of action.

Maria Edgeworth

hope action spring

It is not so easy to do good as those who have never attempted it may imagine.

Maria Edgeworth

imagine easy may

Fortune's wheel never stands still the highest point is therefore the most perilous.

Maria Edgeworth

wheels stills fortune

Some people talk of morality, and some of religion, but give me a little snug property.

Maria Edgeworth

motherhood land people

Let the sexes mutually forgive each other their follies; or, what is much better, let them combine their talents for their general advantage.

Maria Edgeworth

forgiving talent sex

Love occupies a vast space in a woman's thoughts, but fills a small portion in a man's life.

Maria Edgeworth

portions space men

Remember, we can judge better by the conduct of people towards others than by their manner towards ourselves.

Maria Edgeworth

judging remember people