Quotes from Washington Irving

The almighty dollar, that great object of universal devotion throughout our land.

The natural effect of sorrow over the dead is to refine and elevate the mind.

The renowned and antient city of Gotham.

Young lawyers attend the courts, not because they have business there, but because they have no business.

For what is history, but... huge libel on human nature, to which we industriously add page after page, volume after volume, as if we were holding up a monument to the honor, rather than the infamy of our species.

His wife "ruled the roast," and in governing the governor, governed the province, which might thus be said to be under petticoat government.

There is never jealousy where there is not strong regard.

A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands. But a mother's love endures through all.

There is certain relief in change, even though it be from bad to worse! As I have often found in traveling in a stagecoach, that it is often a comfort to shift one's position, and be bruised in a new place.

There is in every true woman's heart a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity; but which kindles up, and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.

Some minds seem almost to create themselves, springing up under every disadvantage and working their solitary but irresistible way through a thousand obstacles.

How convenient it would be to many of our great men and great families of doubtful origin, could they have the privilege of the heroes of yore, who, whenever their origin was involved in obscurity, modestly announced themselves descended from a god.

I wish to impress these matters upon you, because you are the eldest of your father's family. The oldest son should consider himself the second father of the family.

Who ever hears of fat men heading a riot, or herding together in turbulent mobs? No - no, your lean, hungry men who are continually worrying society, and setting the whole community by the ears.

After all, it is the divinity within that makes the divinity without and I have been more fascinated by a woman of talent and intelligence, though deficient in personal charms, than I have been by the most regular beauty.

An inexhaustible good nature is one of the most precious gifts of heaven, spreading itself like oil over the troubled sea of thought, and keeping the mind smooth and equable in the roughest weather.

Age is a matter of feeling, not of years.

A few amber clouds floated in the sky without a breath of air to move them. The horizon was of a fine golden tint, changing gradually into a pure apple-green, and from that into the deep blue of the mid-heaven.

A woman's life is a history of the affections.

Great minds have purposes, little minds have wishes.

Great minds have purposes, others have wishes. Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune; but great minds rise above them.

I am always at a loss to know how much to believe of my own stories.

Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortunes; but great minds rise above them.

Some minds seem almost to create themselves, springing up under every disadvantage and working their solitary but irresistible way throughout a thousand obstacles.