Quotes from Elizabeth Peters

Hate is a destructive emotion, but it does not destroy the object of hatred. It destroys the one who hates

marred by deep lines of

No woman really wants a man to carry her off; she only wants him to want to do it.

The way to get on with a cat is to treat it as an equal - or even better, as the superior it knows itself to be.

Marriage, in my view, should be a balanced stalemate between equal adversaries.

I disapprove of matrimony as a matter of principle.... Why should any independent, intelligent female choose to subject herself to the whims and tyrannies of a husband? I assure you, I have yet to meet a man as sensible as myself! (Amelia Peabody)

In the silence I heard Bastet, who had retreated under the bed, carrying on a mumbling, profane monologue. (If you ask how I knew it was profane, I presume you have never owned a cat.)

Most men are reasonably useful in a crisis. The difficulty lies in convincing them that the situation has reached a critical point

It is much more sensible to be an optimist instead of a pessimist, for if one is doomed to disappointment, why experience it in advance?

I do not scruple to employ mendacity and a fictitious appearance of female incompetence when the occasion demands it.

If all else fails, we will simply have to drug our attendants, overpower the guards, raise the oppressed peasants to arms, and take over the government.

Is is difficult to be angry with a gentleman who pays you compliments, even impertinent compliments. Especially impertinent compliments.

When one is striding bravely into the future one cannot watch one's footing.

Peculiar or not, it is my idea of pleasure. Why, why else do you lead this life you don't enjoy it? Don't talk of duty to me; you men always have some high-sounding excuse for indulging yourselves. You go gallivanting over the earth, climbing mountains, looking for the sources of the Nile; and expect women to sit dully at home embroidering. I embroider very badly. I think I would excavate rather well.

Another dead body. Every year it is the same. Every year, another dead body...

I have learned that particularly clever ideas do not always stand up under close scrutiny.

The trouble with unknown enemies is that they are so difficult to identify.

There are too many people in the world as it is, but the supply of ancient manuscripts is severely limited.

If you take a man by surprise, and behave with sufficient arrogance, he will generally do what you ask. -Emerson

Many persons lead lives of crushing boredom.

The combination of physical strength and moral sincerity combined with tenderness of heart is exactly what is wanted in a husband.--Ameila Peabody

Men are frail creatures, of course; one does not expect them to exhibit the steadfastness of women.

There was no warning, not even a knock. The door flew open, and he forgot his present aches and pains in anticipation of what lay in store. The figure that stood in the door was not that of an enemy. It was worse. It was his mother.

I will tell you a little secret about archaeologists, dear Reader. They all pretend t be very high-minded. They claim that their sole aim in excavation is to uncover the mysteries of the past and add to the store of human knowledge. They lie. What they really want is a spectacular discovery, so they can get their names in the newspapers and inspire envy and hatred in the hearts of their rivals.