Mary Wortley Montagu Quotes

My health is so often impaired that I begin to be as weary of it as mending old lace; when it is patched in one place, it breaks out in another.

No modest man ever did or ever will make a fortune.

Whatever is clearly expressed is well wrote.

People wish their enemies dead - but I do not; I say give them the gout, give them the stone!

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.

True knowledge consists in knowing things, not words.

As I approach a second childhood, I endeavor to enter into the pleasures of it.

Muse, time has taught me that all metaphysical systems, even historical facts given as truths, are hardly that, so I amuse myself with more agreeable lies; I no longer read anything but novels.

I have often observ'd the loudest Laughers to be the dullest Fellows in the Company.

[On her political writings:] It is, I confess, very possible that these my Labours may only be destined to line Trunks, or preserve roast Meat from too fierce a Fire; yet in that Shape I shall be useful to my Country.

While conscience is our friend, all is at peace; however once it is offended, farewell to a tranquil mind.

But the fruit that can fall without shaking Indeed is too mellow for me.

Satire should, like a polished razor keen, Wound with a touch that's scarcely felt or seen.

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.

The use of knowledge in our sex (beside the amusement of solitude) is to moderate the passions and learn to be contented with a small expense, which are the certain effects of a studious life and, it may be, preferable even to that fame which men have engrossed to themselves and will not suffer us to share.

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.

People are never so near playing the fool as when they think themselves wise.

One can never outlive one's vanity.

We are no more free agents than the queen of clubs when she victoriously takes prisoner the knave of hearts.

Tis the established custom [in Vienna] for every lady to have two husbands, one that bears the name, and another that performs the duties.

As marriage produces children, so children produce care and disputes; and wrangling.

Solitude begets whimsies.

It was formerly a terrifying view to me that I should one day be an old woman. I now find that Nature has provided pleasures for every state.

We have all our playthings. Happy are they who are contented with those they can obtain; those hours are spent in the wisest manner that can easiest shade the ills of life, and are the least productive of ill consequences.

We are apt to consider Shakespeare only as a poet; but he was certainly one of the greatest moral philosophers that ever lived.

To always be loved one must ever be agreeable.

It goes far towards reconciling me to being a woman, when I reflect that I am thus in no danger of ever marrying one.

Forgive what you can't excuse.

You can be pleased with nothing if you are not pleased with yourself.

Civility costs nothing, and buys everything.

Time has the same effect on the mind as on the face; the predominant passion and the strongest feature become more conspicuous from the others retiring.

We travellers 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.

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.

I have never, in all my various travels, seen but two sorts of people I mean men and women, who always have been, and ever will be, the same. The same vices and the same follies have been the fruit of all ages, though sometimes under different names.

No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting. She will not want new fashions nor regret the loss of expensive diversions or variety of company if she can be amused with an author in her closet.

Prudent people are very happy; 'tis an exceeding fine thing, that's certain, but I was born without it, and shall retain to my day of Death the Humour of saying what I think.

There is no remedy so easy as books, which if they do not give cheerfulness, at least restore quiet to the most troubled mind.

My dear Smollett ... disgraces his talent by writing those stupid romances called history.

The familiarities of the gaming-table contribute very much to the decay of politeness ... The pouts and quarrels that naturally arise from disputes must put an end to all complaisance, or even good will towards one another.

A woman, till five-and-thirty, is only looked upon as a raw girl, and can possibly make no noise in the world till about forty.

I believe more follies are committed out of complaisance to the world, than in following our own inclinations.

Life is too short for a long story

Conscience is justice's best minister; it threatens, promises, rewards, and punishes and keeps all under control; the busy must attend to its remonstrances, the most powerful submit to its reproof, and the angry endure its upbraidings. While conscience is our friend all is peace; but if once offended farewell the tranquil mind.

Philosophy is the toil which can never tire persons engaged in it. All ways are strewn with roses, and the farther you go, the more enchanting objects appear before you and invite you on.

The knowledge of numbers is one of the chief distinctions between us and the brutes.

We should ask, not who is the most learned, but who is the best learned.

My chief study all my life has been to lighten misfortunes and multiply pleasures, as far as human nature can.

Civility cost nothing.