William Makepeace Thackeray Quotes - Page 11

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Let us people who are so uncommonly clever and learned have a great tenderness and pity for the poor folks who are not endowed with the prodigious talents which we have.

William Makepeace Thackeray

Clever, People, Talent

William Makepeace Thackeray (2008). “The Christmas Books of Mr. M.a.titmarsh: Easyread Super Large 24pt Edition”, p.220, ReadHowYouWant.com

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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

Giving, Balance, Looks

William Makepeace Thackeray (1849). “Vanity fair. With illustr. by the author”, p.77

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It is all very well for you, who have probably never seen any spiritual manifestations, to talk as you do; but if you had seen what I have witnessed you would hold a different opinion.

William Makepeace Thackeray

Spiritual, Different, Opinion

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Where is truth, forsooth, and who knoweth it? Is Beauty beautiful, or is it only our eyes that make it so? Does Venus squint? Has she got a splay-foot, red hair, and a crooked back? Anoint my eyes, good Fairy Puck, so that I may ever consider the Beloved Object a paragon! Above all, keep on anointing my mistress's dainty peepers with the very strongest ointment, so that my noddle may ever appear lovely to her, and that she may continue to crown my honest ears with fresh roses!

William Makepeace Thackeray

Beautiful, Eye, Hair

William Makepeace Thackeray (2015). “The Virginians: Christie's Collections”, p.126, 谷月社

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If fathers are sometimes sulky at the appearance of the destined son-in-law, is it not a fact that mothers become sentimental and, as it were, love their own loves over again.

William Makepeace Thackeray

Mother, Father, Son

William Makepeace Thackeray (1859). “The Virginians: A Tale of the Last Century”, p.144

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To know nothing, or little, is in the nature of some husbands. To hide, in the nature of how many women? Oh, ladies! how many of you have surreptitious milliners' bills? How many of you have gowns and bracelets which you daren't show, or which you wear trembling?--trembling, and coaxing with smiles the husband by your side, who does not know the new velvet gown from the old one, or the new bracelet from last year's, or has any notion that the ragged-looking yellow lace scarf cost forty guineas and that Madame Bobinot is writing dunning letters every week for the money!

William Makepeace Thackeray

Husband, Writing, Years

William Makepeace Thackeray (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of William Makepeace Thackeray (Illustrated)”, p.1026, Delphi Classics

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Which of us that is thirty years old has not had its Pompeii? Deep under ashes lies the life of youth--the careless sport, the pleasure and the passion, the darling joy.

William Makepeace Thackeray

Sports, Lying, Passion

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Could the best and kindest of us who depart from the earth have an opportunity of revisiting it, I suppose he or she (assuming that any Vanity Fair feelings subsist in the sphere whither we are bound) would have a pang of mortification at finding how soon our survivors were consoled.

William Makepeace Thackeray

Opportunity, Vanity, Feelings

William Makepeace Thackeray (1848). “Vanity Fair: A Novel Without a Hero”, p.256

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Charming Alnaschar visions! it is the happy privilege of youth to construct you.

William Makepeace Thackeray

Vision, Privilege, Youth

William Makepeace Thackeray (1848). “Vanity Fair: A Novel Without a Hero”, p.28

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Certain it is that scandal is good brisk talk, whereas praise of one's neighbor is by no means lively hearing. An acquaintance grilled, scored, devilled, and served with mustard and cayenne pepper excites the appetite; whereas a slice of cold friend with currant jelly is but a sickly, unrelishing meat.

William Makepeace Thackeray

Mean, Old Friends, Scandal

William Makepeace Thackeray (1869). “The four Georges. The English humorists. Roundabout papers”, p.285

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The world is a looking-glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it, and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly kind companion; and so let all young persons take their choice.

William Makepeace Thackeray

Reflection, Men, Glasses

William Makepeace Thackeray (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of William Makepeace Thackeray (Illustrated)”, p.540, Delphi Classics

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Oh, those women! They nurse and cuddle their presentiments, and make darlings of their ugliest thoughts.

William Makepeace Thackeray

Nurse, Darling

William Makepeace Thackeray (1848). “Vanity Fair: A Novel Without a Hero”, p.177

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Come forward, some great marshal, and organize equality in society, and your rod shall swallow up all the juggling old court gold-sticks

William Makepeace Thackeray

Equality, Gold, Sticks

William Makepeace Thackeray (1869). “Miscellanies: The book of snobs. Sketches and travels in London. Denis Duval”, p.100

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If you will fling yourself under the wheels, Juggernaut will go over you; depend upon it.

William Makepeace Thackeray

Over You, Juggernaut, Wheels

William Makepeace Thackeray, Edgar F. Harden (2005). “The Snobs of England: And, Punch's Prize Novelists”, p.11, University of Michigan Press

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She had not character enough to take to drinking, and moaned about, slip-shod and in curl-papers, all day.

William Makepeace Thackeray

Drinking, Character, Alcohol

William Makepeace Thackeray (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of William Makepeace Thackeray (Illustrated)”, p.607, Delphi Classics

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I never was much of an oyster eater, nor can I relish them 'in naturalibus' as some do, but require a quantity of sauces, lemons, cayenne peppers, bread and butter, and so forth, to render them palatable.

William Makepeace Thackeray

Oysters, Sauce, Bread

William Makepeace Thackeray (1852). “The Confessions of Fitz-Booddle; and Some Passages in the Life of Major Gahagan”, p.171

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He who meanly admires mean things is a Snob.

William Makepeace Thackeray

Mean, Admire, Snob

The Book of Snobs ch. 2 (1848)

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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

Beautiful, Art, Stars

William Makepeace Thackeray (2000). “Vanity Fair: (A Modern Library E-Book)”, p.928, Modern Library

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Novels are sweets. All people with healthy literary appetites love them-almost all women; a vast number of clever, hardheaded men.

William Makepeace Thackeray

Sweet, Clever, Men

William Makepeace Thackeray (1869). “The four Georges. The English humorists. Roundabout papers”, p.221

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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

Tea, May, Littles

"The History of Pendennis".

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As if the ray which travels from the sun would reach me sooner than the man who blacks my boots.

William Makepeace Thackeray

Equality, Men, Rays

William Makepeace Thackeray (1867). “Pendennis”, p.394

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If a secret history of books could be written, and the author's private thoughts and meanings noted down alongside of his story, how many insipid volumes would become interesting, and dull tales excite the reader!

William Makepeace Thackeray

Book, Reading, Writing

William Makepeace Thackeray (2008). “The History of Pendennis (Volume 2 of 2 ) (EasyRead Edition)”, p.51, ReadHowYouWant.com

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[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

Men, Soul, Devil

William Makepeace Thackeray (1848). “Vanity Fair: A Novel Without a Hero”, p.331

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Ho, pretty page, with the dimpled chin That never has known the barber's shear, All your wish is woman to win, This is the way that boys begin. Wait till you come to Forty Year.

William Makepeace Thackeray

Women, Winning, Boys

William Makepeace Thackeray (1870). “Catherine. Titmarsch among pictures and books. Fraser miscellanies. Christmas books. Ballads”, p.565

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Fairy roses, fairy rings, turn out sometimes troublesome things.

William Makepeace Thackeray

Rose, Fairy, Sometimes

William Makepeace Thackeray (1870). “Catherine. Titmarsch among pictures and books. Fraser miscellanies. Christmas books. Ballads”, p.460

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Born: July 18, 1811
Died: December 24, 1863
Occupation: Novelist
Cite this Page: Citation

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