Quotes By William Makepeace Thackeray

There are many sham diamonds in this life which pass for real, and vice versa.

The world is a looking glass and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face.

Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children.

Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world yields, or if it beats you sometimes, dare it again and you will succeed.

To love and win is the best thing. To love and lose, the next best.

The two most engaging powers of an author are to make new things familiar, familiar things new.

A good laugh is sunshine in the house.

It is impossible, in our condition of Society, not to be sometimes a Snob.

People who do not know how to laugh are always pompous and self-conceited.

Kindnesses are easily forgotten; but injuries! what worthy man does not keep those in mind?

When I walk with you I feel as if I had a flower in my buttonhole.

It is to the middle-class we must look for the safety of England.

Next to excellence is the appreciation of it.

Next to the young, I suppose the very old are the most selfish.

An evil person is like a dirty window, they never let the light shine through.

A clever, ugly man every now and then is successful with the ladies, but a handsome fool is irresistible.

Dinner was made for eating, not for talking.

Good humor is one of the best articles of dress one can wear in society.

Despair is perfectly compatible with a good dinner, I promise you.

There are a thousand thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up a pen to write.

I never knew whether to pity or congratulate a man on coming to his senses.

Follow your honest convictions and be strong.

Bravery never goes out of fashion.

Except for the young or very happy, I can't say I am sorry for anyone who dies.

It is best to love wisely, no doubt; but to love foolishly is better than not to be able to love at all.

People hate as they love, unreasonably.

The book of female logic is blotted all over with tears, and Justice in their courts is forever in a passion.

I would rather make my name than inherit it.

'Tis strange what a man may do, and a woman yet think him an angel.

It is only hope which is real, and reality is a bitterness and a deceit.