Minna Antrim (1861–1950,) fully Minna Augusta Thomas Antrim, was an American writer and epigrammist. She is famous for the quote “Experience is a great teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.”
Born in Philadelphia, Antrim was a descendant of the old Philadelphia Quaker stock. She was educated at St. Mary’s Hall in Burlington, New Jersey. Her husband W. H. Antrim was an editor) in Philadelphia.
Antrim was celebrated for the many editions of her Collection of Toasts (1902.) Her notable other publications include Dont’s for Girls: A Manual of Mistakes (1902,) The Wisdom of the Foolish & The Folly of the Wise (1903,) Phases Mazes and Crazes of Love (1904,) Sweethearts and Beaux (1905,) and Jester Life and his Marionettes (1908.)
Antrim was also a contributor to many leading magazines, including Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine, The Advance, Chicago Women’s Physical Development, The Baltimore Sun, and the New York Times.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Minna Antrim
A man’s mother is his ideal; his sweetheart is his dream; his wife, his—awakening.
—Minna Antrim
Satiety is a mongrel that barks at the heels of plenty.
—Minna Antrim
Topics: Greed
Much time is given by women to dusting bric-a-brac that might wisely be devoted to ridding their brains of cobwebs.
—Minna Antrim
It takes more than a wise man to keep track of a foolish woman.
—Minna Antrim
Topics: Fools
The “Green-eyed Monster” causes much woe, but the absence of this ugly serpent argues the presence of a corpse whose name is Eros.
—Minna Antrim
Topics: Jealousy
The woman who confesses to the world an indiscretion commits two. Antiphonal citations of their conquests are the favorite pastimes of Madame Passé and Monsieur Old Boy.
—Minna Antrim
The most successful man in society is he who has the wit not to be too wise, and the wisdom not to be too witty.
—Minna Antrim
Women tell men they detest flattery; but they are furious when they make lasting converts.
—Minna Antrim
A homely face and no figure have aided many women heavenward.
—Minna Antrim
Topics: Virtue
Man proposes, woman forecloses.
—Minna Antrim
Topics: Seduction
Truth, like many other virtuous Old Things, can make herself extremely unpleasant.
—Minna Antrim
A fool bolts pleasure, then complains of moral indigestion.
—Minna Antrim
Topics: Pleasure
Enthusiasms, like stimulants, are often affected by people with small mental ballast.
—Minna Antrim
Topics: Enthusiasm
To expect a mortal to wear celestial wings is folly. This earth is not atmospherically adapted to seraphim.
—Minna Antrim
When a woman is very, very bad, she is awful, but when a man is correspondingly good, he is weird.
—Minna Antrim
Topics: Men, Men & Women, Women
An epigram is a flashlight of a truth; a witticism, truth laughing at itself.
—Minna Antrim
Topics: Proverbial Wisdom
The drama of life begins with a wail and ends with a sigh.
—Minna Antrim
Topics: Living, Life
The ways of some men with a maid are as diverting as those of all widows with a youth.
—Minna Antrim
Man forgives women anything save the wit to outwit him.
—Minna Antrim
Topics: Women, Men, Men & Women
Lovers use each other’s eyes for mirrors; and that explains many matrimonial riddles.
—Minna Antrim
Fame’s pedestals are revolving; no wonder great celebrities act queerly when invited to come off them.
—Minna Antrim
Topics: Life
Between flattery and admiration there often flows a river of contempt.
—Minna Antrim
Topics: Flattery
The difference between a saint and a hypocrite is that one lies for his religion, the other by it.
—Minna Antrim
Topics: Deception/Lying, Lies, Lying
A man who will cut out his friends to gratify his wife will eventually leave his wife to gratify his friends.
—Minna Antrim
Illusion is the dust the devil throws in the eyes of the foolish.
—Minna Antrim
Topics: Fools
The pathos of the stalwart young man with the hoe is nothing compared to the sight of a decrepit old man sowing wild oats.
—Minna Antrim
A mother who can see her daughter married without a sigh could bury her without a tear.
—Minna Antrim
Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.
—Minna Antrim
Topics: Experience
If the rich were as uncharitable toward the sins of the poor as the poor are toward the follies of the rich, misery and want would howl like wolves outside more doors.
—Minna Antrim
To be loved is to be fortunate, but to be hated is to achieve distinction.
—Minna Antrim
Topics: Life
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