Quotes from Mary Shelley

Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of void, but out of chaos.

Teach him to think for himself? Oh, my God, teach him rather to think like other people!

A slavish bondage to parents cramps every faculty of the mind.

What terrified me will terrify others; and I need only describe the spectre which had haunted my midnight pillow.

Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world.

My dreams were all my own; I accounted for them to nobody; they were my refuge when annoyed - my dearest pleasure when free.

A king is always a king - and a woman always a woman: his authority and her sex ever stand between them and rational converse.

I am very averse to bringing myself forward in print, but as my account will only appear as an appendage to a former production, and as it will be confined to such topics as have connection with my authorship alone, I can hardly accuse myself of a personal intrusion.

Hateful day when I received life!' I exclaimed in agony. 'Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemlance. Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and abhorred.' - Frankenstein

Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be his world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.

I am alone and miserable. Only someone as ugly as I am could love me.

It may...be judged indecent in me to come forward on this occasion; but when I see a fellow-creature about to perish through the cowardice of her pretended friends, I wish to be allowed to speak, that I may say what I know of her character.

I could not understand why men who knew all about good and evil could hate and kill each other.

once I falsely hoped to meet the beings who, pardoning my outward form, would love me for the excellent qualities which I was capable of unfolding.

if I see but one smile on your lips when we meet, occasioned by this or any other exertion of mine, I shall need no other happiness.

learn from my miseries, and do not seek to increase your own.

My dreams were all my own; I accounted for them to nobody; they were my refuge when annoyed - my dearest pleasure when free.

I am malicious because I am miserable

I looked upon the sea, it was to be my grave

My education was neglected, yet I was passionately fond of reading.

Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust?

A mind of moderate capacity which closely pursues one study must infallibly arrive at great proficiency in that study.

The fallen angel becomes a malignant devil.

The different accidents of life are not so changeable as the feelings of human nature.