Quotes from William Makepeace Thackeray

I would rather make my name then inherit it.

One of the great conditions of anger and hatred is, that you must tell and believe lies against the hated object, in order, as we said, to be consistent.

It was in the reign of George II. that the above-named personages lived and quarrelled ; good or bad, handsome or ugly, rich or poor, they are all equal now

She lived in her past life- these relics and remembrances of dead affection were all that was left her in the world.

it is the ordinary lot of people to have no friends if they themselves care for nobody

As fits the holy Christmas birth, Be this, good friends, our carol still Be peace on earth, be peace on earth, To men of gentle will.

Next to eating good dinners, a healthy man with a benevolent turn of mind, must like, I think, to read about them.

The great quality of Dulness is to be unalterably contented with itself.

How hard it is to make an Englishman acknowledge that he is happy! Pendennis. Book ii. Chap. xxxi.

An intelligent wife can make her home, in spite of exigencies, pretty much what she pleases.

Lucky he who has been educated to bear his fate, whatsoever it may be, by an early example of uprightness, and a childish training in honor.

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

I would rather make my name than inherit it.

Follow your honest convictions and be strong.

Who feels injustice, who shrinks before a slight, who has a sense of wrong so acute, and so glowing a gratitude for kindness, as a generous boy?

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

Tis hard with respect to Beauty, that its possessor should not have a life enjoyment of it, but be compelled to resign it after, at the most, some forty years lease

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

The little cares, fears, tears, timid misgivings, sleepless fancies of I don't know how many days and nights, were forgotten under one moment's influence of that familiar, irresistible smile.

An immense percentage of snobs, I believe, is to be found in every rank of this mortal life.

No particular motive for living, except the custom and habit of it.

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

Come forward, some great marshal, and organize equality in society, and your rod shall swallow up all the juggling old court gold-sticks

There is no good in living in a society where you are merely the equal of everybody else. The true pleasure of life is to live with your inferiors.