The main question to a novel is -- did it amuse? were you surprised at dinner coming so soon? did you mistake eleven for ten? were you too late to dress? and did you sit up beyond the usual hour? If a novel produces these effects, it is good; if it does not -- story, language, love, scandal itself cannot save it. It is only meant to please; and it must do that or it does nothing.

No furniture is so charming as books.

Madam, I have been looking for a person who disliked gravy all my life; let us swear eternal friendship.

If I were to begin life again, I would devote it to music. It is the only cheap and unpunished rapture upon earth.

The fact is that in order to do anything in this world worth doing, we must not stand shivering on the bank thinking of the cold and the danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can.

When you rise in the morning, form a resolution to make the day a happy one for a fellow creature.

I always fear that creation will expire before teatime.

Going to marry her? Impossible! You mean a part of her; he could not marry her all himself. It would be a case, not of bigamy but trigamy; there is enough of her to furnish wives for the whole parish. One man marry her! - it is monstrous! You might people a colony with her; or give an assembly with her; or perhaps take your morning's walk round her, always provided there were frequent resting places, and you were in rude health. I once was rash enough to try walking round her before breakfast, but only got half way and gave it up exhausted. Or you might read the Riot Act and disperse her; in short, you might do anything but marry her!

He has returned from Italy a greater bore than ever he bores on architecture painting statuary and music.

He (Macaulay) has occasional flashes of silence that make his conversation perfectly delightful.

You never say a word of yourself dear Lady Grey. You have that dreadful sin of anti-egotism.

I have gout asthma and seven other maladies but am otherwise very well.

Life is to be fortified by many friendships. To love and to be loved is the greatest happiness of existence.

Madam I have been looking for a person who disliked gravy all my life let us swear eternal friendship.

To do anything in this world worth doing we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger but jump in and scramble through as well as we can.

Great men hallow a whole people and lift up all who live in their time.

Hope is the belief more or less strong that joy will come desire is the wish it may come.

I never believe facts Canning said nothing was so fallacious as facts except figures.

Oh don't tell me of facts - I never believe in facts you know Canning said nothing was so fallacious as facts except figures.

When you rise in the morning form a resolution to make the day a happy one for a fellow creature.

Take short views hope for the best and trust in God.

When you rise in the morning form a resolution to make the day a happy one for a fellow creature.

It is always considered a piece of impertinence in England if a man of less than two or three thousand a year has any opinions at all upon important subjects.

Politeness is good nature regulated by good sense.

Among the smaller duties in life I hardly know any one more important than that of not praising when praise is not due.

Never try to reason the prejudice out of a man. It was not reasoned into him and cannot be reasoned out.

Heat madam! It was so dreadful that I found there was nothing for it but to take off my flesh and sit in my bones.

Men whose trade is rat-catching love to catch rats the bug destroyer seizes on his bug with delight and the suppressor is gratified by finding his vice.

Never desert your own line of talent. Be what nature intended you for and you will succeed.

Whatever you are by nature keep to it never desert your own line of talent. Be what nature intended you for and you will succeed be anything else and you will be ten thousand times worse than nothing.

He not only overflowed with learning but stood in the slop.

Never give way to melancholy resist it steadily for the habit will encroach.

To do anything in this world worth doing we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger but jump in and scramble through as well as we can.

Whatever you are by nature keep to it never desert your own line of talent. Be what nature intended you for and you will succeed be anything else and you will be ten thousand times worse than nothing.

That sign of old age extolling the past at the expense of the present.

We know nothing of tomorrow our business is to be good and happy today.

Never desert your own line of talent. Be what nature intended you for and you will succeed.

Men whose trade is rat-catching love to catch rats the bug destroyer seizes on his bug with delight the suppressor is gratified by finding his vice.