You, who are ashamed of your poverty, and blush for your calling, are a snob; as are you who boast of your wealth. William Makepeace Thackeray More Quotes by William Makepeace Thackeray More Quotes From William Makepeace Thackeray Next to the very young, I suppose the very old are the most selfish. William Makepeace Thackeray selfishnessselfishnext Always to be right, always to trample forward, and never to doubt, are not these the great qualities with which dullness takes the lead in the world? William Makepeace Thackeray qualitydoubtworld It is from the level of calamities, not that of every-day life, that we learn impressive and useful lessons. William Makepeace Thackeray calamitylevelslessons As nature made every man with a nose and eyes of his own, she gave him a character of his own, too; and yet we, O foolish race! must try our very best to ape some one or two of our neighbors, whose ideas fit us no more than their breeches! William Makepeace Thackeray eyecharactermen One of the great conditions of anger and hatred is, that you must tell and believe lies against the hated object, in order, as we said, to be consistent. William Makepeace Thackeray orderbelievelying Is beauty beautiful, or is it only our eyes that make it so? William Makepeace Thackeray eyebeautifulbeauty A snob is that man or woman who is always pretending to be something better--especially richer or more fashionable--than he is. William Makepeace Thackeray pretendingsnobmen Benevolence and feeling ennoble the most trifling actions. William Makepeace Thackeray triflingactionfeelings Every man ought to be in love a few times in his life, and to have a smart attack of the fever. You are better for it when it is over: the better for your misfortune, if you endure it with a manly heart; how much the better for success, if you win it and a good wife into the bargain! William Makepeace Thackeray smartheartmen When a mother, as fond mothers will; vows that she knows every thought in her daughter's heart, I think she pretends to know a great deal too much. William Makepeace Thackeray daughtermotherheart That acknowledgment of weakness which we make in imploring to be relieved from hunger and from temptation is surely wisely put in our daily prayer. Think of it, you who are rich, and take heed how you turn a beggar away. William Makepeace Thackeray temptationprayerthinking We pass by common objects or persons without noticing them; but the keen eye detects and notes types everywhere and among all classes. William Makepeace Thackeray eyecommonclass I suppose as long as novels last, and authors aim at interesting their public, there must always be in the story a virtuous and gallant hero; a wicked monster, his opposite; and a pretty girl, who finds a champion. Bravery and virtue conquer beauty; and vice, after seeming to triumph through a certain number of pages, is sure to be discomfited in the last volume, when justice overtakes him, and honest folks come by their own. William Makepeace Thackeray girlheroopposites A pair of bright eyes with a dozen glances suffice to subdue a man; to enslave him, and enflame him; to make him even forget; they dazzle him so that the past becomes straightway dim to him; and he so prizes them that he would give all his life to possess 'em. William Makepeace Thackeray eyelovepast Out of the fictitious book I get the expression of the life, of the times, of the manners, of the merriment, of the dress, the pleasure, the laughter, the ridicules of society. The old times live again. Can the heaviest historian do more for me? William Makepeace Thackeray laughterexpressionbook It was in the reign of George II. that the above-named personages lived and quarrelled ; good or bad, handsome or ugly, rich or poor, they are all equal now William Makepeace Thackeray handsomeuglyrich-or-poor Frequent the company of your betters. William Makepeace Thackeray company He that has ears to hear, let him stuff them with cotton. William Makepeace Thackeray cottonearsstuff The book of female logic is blotted all over with tears, and Justice in their courts is forever in a passion. William Makepeace Thackeray passionjusticebook Sure, love vincit omnia; is immeasurably above all ambition, more precious than wealth, more noble than name. He knows not life who knows not that: he hath not felt the highest faculty of the soul who hath not enjoyed it. William Makepeace Thackeray ambitionnameslove
