William Makepeace Thackeray Quotes

191 quotes in 2227 categories

• Why do they always put mud into coffee on board steamers? Why does the tea generally taste of boiled boots?
• Certain corpuscles, denominated Christmas Books, with the ostensible intention of swelling the tide of exhilaration, or other expansive emotions, incident upon the exodus of the…
• At that comfortable tavern on Pontchartrain we had a bouillabaisse than which a better was never eaten at Marseilles; and not the least headache in…
• Life is soul's nursery- its training place for the destinies of eternity.
• What stories are new? All types of all characters march through all fables.
• There is no good in living in a society where you are merely the equal of everybody else. The true pleasure of life is to…
• The pipe draws wisdom from the lips of the philosopher, and shuts up the mouth of the foolish; it generates a style of conversation, contemplative,…
• People who do not know how to laugh are always pompous and self-conceited.
• He first selected the smallest one...and then bowed his head as though he were saying grace. Opening his mouth very wide, he struggled for a…
• 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;…
• Under the magnetism of friendship the modest man becomes bold; the shy, confident; the lazy, active; and the impetuous, prudent and peaceful.
• 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…
• Kindness is very indigestible. It disagrees with proud stomachs.
• We love being in love, that's the truth on't.
• It is only hope which is real, and reality is a bitterness and a deceit.
• Pray, dear madam, another glass; it is Christmas time, it will do you no harm.
• Successful people aren't born that way. They become successful by establishing the habit of doing things unsuccessful people don't like to do. The successful people…
• What is it to be a gentleman? Is it to be honest, to be gentle, to be generous, to be brave, to be wise, and,…
• What part of confidante has that poor teapot played ever since the kindlyplant was introduced among us. Why myriads of women have cried over it,…
• Nature has written a letter of credit upon some men's faces that is honored wherever presented. You cannot help trusting such men. Their very presence…

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