“To those great geniuses now in petticoats, who shall write novels for the beloved reader's children, these men and things will be… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
“Picture to yourself, O fair young reader, a worldly, selfish, graceless, thankless, religionless old woman, writhing in pain and fear, and without… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
Certain opuscules, denominated 'Christmas Books,' with the ostensible intention of swelling the tide of exhilaration, or other expansive emotions, incident upon the… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
“It may be whispered to those uninitiated people who are anxious to know the habits and make the acquaintance of men of… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
If a secret history of books could be written, and the author's private thoughts and meanings noted down alongside of his story,… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
“With this purpose, the author chose for the subject of his story a woman named Catherine Hayes, who was burned at Tyburn,… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
It seems to me one cannot sit down in that place [the Round Reading room of the British Museum] without a heart… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
“The two most engaging powers of an author are to make new things familiar and familiar things new.” — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
Out of the fictitious book I get the expression of the life, of the times, of the manners, of the merriment, of… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
Novels are sweets. All people with healthy literary appetites love them-almost all women; a vast number of clever, hardheaded men. — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
“Mr. Brock’s account of his adventure in London has given the reader some short notice of his friend, Mr Macshane. Neither the… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
“The public will hear of nothing but rogues; and the only way in which poor authors, who must live, can act honestly… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
There are other books in a man's library besides Ovid, and after dawdling ever so long at a woman's knee, one day… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
The book of female logic is blotted all over with tears, and Justice in their courts is forever in a passion. — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
“But my kind reader will please to remember that this history has “Vanity Fair” for a title, and that Vanity Fair is… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
How hard it is to make an Englishman acknowledge that he is happy! Pendennis. Book ii. Chap. xxxi. — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
I suppose as long as novels last, and authors aim at interesting their public, there must always be in the story a… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
“O blessed idleness! Divine lazy nymph! Reach me a novel as I lie in my dressing-gown at three o'clock in the afternoon;… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
“To those great geniuses now in petticoats, who shall write novels for the beloved reader's children, these men and things will be as much… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world yields,… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
As nature made every man with a nose and eyes of his own, she gave him a character of his own, too; and yet… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
It is best to love wisely, no doubt; but to love foolishly is better than not to be able to love at all. — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
Our great thoughts, our great affections, the truths of our life, never leave us. Surely they can not separate from our consciousness, shall follow… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
Charming Alnaschar visions! it is the happy privilege of youth to construct you. — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
To see a young couple loving each other is no wonder; but to see an old couple loving each other is the best sight… — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
An immense percentage of snobs, I believe, is to be found in every rank of this mortal life. — William Makepeace Thackeray Copy Share Image
