I sometimes give myself admirable advice, but I am incapable of taking it.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Advice
I regard almost all quarrels of princes on the same footing, and I see nothing that marks man’s unreason so positively as war. Indeed, what folly to kill one another for interests often imaginary, and always for the pleasure of persons who do not think themselves even obliged to those who sacrifice themselves for them!
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: War
Nature is seldom in the wrong, custom always.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Custom
I wish you would moderate that fondness you have for your children. I do not mean you should abate any part of your care, or not do your duty to them in its utmost extent, but I would have you early prepare yourself for disappointments, which are heavy in proportion to their being surprising.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Parents, Parenting
Be plain in dress, and sober in your diet; In short, my dear, kiss me and be quiet.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Modesty, Light, One Step at a Time, Humility, Proverbs, Blame, Diet
Civility costs nothing, and buys everything.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Manners, Kindness
There is nothing can pay one for that invaluable ignorance which is the companion of youth, those sanguine groundless hopes, and that lively vanity which makes all the happiness of life.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Youth
I prefer liberty to chains of diamonds.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Strictly speaking, there is but one real evil: I mean acute pain. All other complaints are so considerably diminished by time that it is plain the grief is owing to our passion, since the sensation of it vanishes when that is over.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Pain
And we meet, with champagne and a chicken, at last.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Wine
No modest man ever did or ever will make a fortune.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Modesty, Humility
Life is too short for a long story.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Storytelling
Satire should, like a polished razor, keen, wound with a touch that is scarcely felt or seen.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
I don’t say ‘Tis impossible for an impudent man not to rise in the world, but a moderate merit with a large share of impudence is more probable to be advanced than the greatest qualifications without it.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Growth
Solitude begets whimsies.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Solitude
Whoever will cultivate their own mind will find full employment. Every virtue does not only require great care in the planting, but as much daily solicitude in cherishing as exotic fruits and flowers; the vices and passions (which I am afraid are the natural product of the soil) demand perpetual weeding. Add to this the search after knowledge… and the longest life is too short.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Self-improvement, Progress
Writers of novels and romances in general bring a double loss on their readers,—they rob them both of their time and money; representing men, manners, and things, that never have been, nor are likely to be; either confounding or perverting history and truth, inflating the mind, or committing violence upon the understanding.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Romance
Nobody can deny but religion is a comfort to the distressed, a cordial to the sick, and sometimes a restraint on the wicked; therefore whoever would argue or laugh it out of the world without giving some equivalent for it ought to be treated as a common enemy.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Religion
My chief study all my life has been to lighten misfortunes and multiply pleasures, as far as human nature can.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Pleasure
Conscience is justice’s best minister. It threatens, promises, rewards, and punishes, and keeps all under its control.—The busy must attend to its remonstrances; the most powerful submit to its reproof, and the angry endure its up-braidings.—While conscience is our friend, all is peace; but if once offended, farewell to the tranquil mind.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Conscience
Politeness costs nothing and gains everything.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Kindness
I hate the noise and hurry inseparable from great Estates and Titles, and look upon both as blessings that ought only to be given to fools, for ‘Tis only to them that they are blessings.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Aristocracy
I know a love may be revived which absence, inconstancy, or even infidelity has extinguished, but there is no returning from a degout given by satiety.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Love
I am charmed with many points of the Turkish law; when proved the authors of any notorious falsehood, they are burned on the forehead with a hot iron.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
We are educated in the grossest ignorance, and no art omitted to stifle our natural reason; if some few get above their nurses instructions, our knowledge must rest concealed and be as useless to the world as gold in the mine.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Women
A man that is ashamed of passions that are natural and reasonable is generally proud of those that are shameful and silly.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Men
People commonly educate their children as they build their houses, according to some plan they think beautiful, without considering whether it is suited to the purposes for which they are designed.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Education
We travelers are in very hard circumstances. If we say nothing but what has been said before us, we are dull and have observed nothing. If we tell anything new, we are laughed at as fabulous and romantic.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Tourism, Travel
Nature has not placed us in an inferior rank to men, no more than the females of other animals, where we see no distinction of capacity, though I am persuaded if there was a commonwealth of rational horses… it would be an established maxim amongst them that a mare could not be taught to pace.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Men, Women, Men & Women
The pretty fellows you speak of, I own entertain me sometimes, but is it impossible to be diverted with what one despises? I can laugh at a puppet show, at the same time I know there is nothing in it worth my attention or regard.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Topics: Men & Women
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Anne Bradstreet American Poet
- Letitia Elizabeth Landon English Poet, Novelist
- Pamela Hansford Johnson British Novelist, Critic
- Elizabeth Barrett Browning English Poet
- Christina Rossetti English Poet
- Frances Ridley Havergal English Anglican Poet
- Mary Webb British Novelist
- John Webster English Dramatist
- John Gay English Poet, Dramatist
- John Dryden English Poet
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