Quotes from Mary Wortley Montagu

I hate the noise and hurry inseparable from great Estates and Titles, and look upon both as blessings that ought only to be given to fools, for 'Tis only to them that they are blessings.

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.

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.

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.

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

A man that is ashamed of passions that are natural and reasonable is generally proud of those that are shameful and silly.

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.

Solitude begets whimsies.

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

I prefer liberty to chains of diamonds.

Be plain in dress, and sober in your diet; In short, my deary, kiss me, and be quiet.

General notions are generally wrong.

The screech-owl, with ill-boding cry, Portends strange things, old women say; Stops every fool that passes by, And frights the school-boy from his play.

Civility costs nothing, and buys everything.

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

Nobody should trust their virtue with necessity, the force of which is never known till it is felt, and it is therefore one of the first duties to avoid the temptation of it.

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

People commonly educate their children as they build their houses, according to some plan they think beautiful, without considering whether it is suited to the purposes for which they are designed.

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

Life is too short for a long story.

Forgive what you can't excuse.

It is 11 years since I have seen my figure in a glass [mirror]. The last reflection I saw there was so disagreeable I resolved to spare myself such mortification in the future.

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

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.