“His flexible mind extended to take in his opponent's position and then snapped back like an elastic, with the illusion that it… — Mary McCarthy Psychology Copy Share Image
Anti-Semitism is a horrible disease from which nobody is immune, and it has a kind of evil fascination that makes an enlightened… — Mary McCarthy Anti semitism Copy Share Image
“She felt really quite unequal to the tedious process of reconciliation which, in view of the fact that she was sorry, seemed… — Mary McCarthy Habits Copy Share Image
In moments of despair, we look on ourselves lead-enly as objects; we see ourselves, our lives, as someone else might see them… — Mary McCarthy Despair Copy Share Image
The strongest argument for the un-materialistic character of American life is the fact that we tolerate conditions that are, from a materialistic… — Mary McCarthy American life Copy Share Image
Proscription, martial law, the billeting of the rude troops, the tax collector, the unjust judge, anything at all, is sweeter than responsibility. — Mary McCarthy Collectors Copy Share Image
A good deal of education consists of unlearning-the breaking of bad habits as with a tennis serve. — Mary McCarthy Bad habit Copy Share Image
In science, all facts, no matter how trivial or banal, enjoy democratic equality. — Mary McCarthy Democratic Copy Share Image
You can date the evolving life of a mind, like the age of a tree, by the rings of friendship formed by… — Mary McCarthy Age Copy Share Image
A society person who is enthusiastic about modern painting or Truman Capote is already half a traitor to his class. It is… — Mary McCarthy Class Copy Share Image
I suppose everyone continues to be interested in the quest for the self, but what you feel when you're older, I think,… — Mary McCarthy Adventure Copy Share Image
The dictator is also the scapegoat; in assuming absolute authority, he assumes absolute guilt; and the oppressed masses, groaning under the yoke,… — Mary McCarthy Absolutes Copy Share Image
Labor is work that leaves no trace behind it when it is finished, or if it does, as in the case of… — Mary McCarthy Activity Copy Share Image
it came to me, as we sat there, glumly ordering lunch, that for extremely stupid people anti-Semitism was a form of intellectuality,… — Mary McCarthy Ability Copy Share Image
If someone tells you he is going to make a 'realistic decision', you immediately understand that he has resolved to do something… — Mary McCarthy Bad decision Copy Share Image
Life for the European is a career; for the American it is a hazard. — Mary McCarthy Career Copy Share Image
The return to a favorite novel is generally tied up with changes in oneself that must be counted as improvements, but have… — Mary McCarthy Book Copy Share Image
Others are to us like the characters in fiction, eternal and incorrigible; the surprises they give us turn out in the end… — Mary McCarthy Character Copy Share Image
It really takes a hero to live any kind of spiritual life without religious belief. — Mary McCarthy Belief Copy Share Image
Every age has a keyhole to which its eye is pasted. Spicy court-memoirs, the lives of gallant ladies, recollections of an ex-nun,… — Mary McCarthy Accounts Copy Share Image
It really seems to me sometimes that the only hope is space. That is to say, perhaps the most energeticin a bad… — Mary McCarthy Behinds Copy Share Image
There are no new truths, but only truths that have not been recognized by those who have perceived them without noticing. — Mary McCarthy Happiness Copy Share Image
The labor of keeping house is labor in its most naked state, for labor is toil that never finishes, toil that has… — Mary McCarthy Consumed Copy Share Image
I once started a detective story to make moneybut I couldn't get the murder to take place! At the end of three… — Mary McCarthy Chapters Copy Share Image
You musn't force sex to do the work of love or love to do the work of sex. — Mary McCarthy Force Copy Share Image
