William Makepeace Thackeray's Quotes

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

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

People hate as they love, unreasonably.

Remember, it's as easy to marry a rich woman as a poor woman.

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

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

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

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.

If a secret history of books could be written, and the author's private thoughts and meanings noted down alongside of his story, how many insipid volumes would become interesting, and dull tales excite the reader!

What money is better bestowed than that of a schoolboy's tip? How the kindness is recalled by the recipient in after days! It blesses him that gives and him that takes.

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

Next to excellence is the appreciation of it.

A good laugh is sunshine in the house.

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.

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

When you look at me, when you think of me, I am in paradise.

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

Bravery never goes out of fashion.

Dinner was made for eating, not for talking.

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

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

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

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

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

Do not be in a hurry to succeed. What would you have to live for afterwards? Better make the horizon your goal; it will always be ahead of you.