I have discovered that our great favourite, Miss Austen, is my countrywoman...with whom mamma before her marriage was acquainted. Mamma says that she was then the prettiest, silliest, most affected, husband-hunting butterfly she ever remembers... Mary Russell Mitford More Quotes by Mary Russell Mitford More Quotes From Mary Russell Mitford Does it not appear to you versatility is the true and rare characteristic of that rare thing called genius-versatility and playfulness? In my mind they are both essential. Mary Russell Mitford essentials mind play Friendship is the bread of the heart. Mary Russell Mitford bread heart I foresee that the Andersen and Fairy Tale fashion will not last; none of these things away from general nature do. Mary Russell Mitford fairytale fashion lasts Fashion is a capricious deity. Mary Russell Mitford capricious deities fashion Prejudices of taste, likings and dislikings, are not always vanquishable by reason. Mary Russell Mitford prejudice taste reason A novel should be as like life as a painting, but not as like life as a piece of waxwork. Mary Russell Mitford painting pieces should Our English people are much addicted to raising idols, and then revenging themselves on their own idolatry by knocking down and demolishing the poor bits of wood and stone that they had worshipped as gods. How many literary reputations have been so treated! Mary Russell Mitford woods idols people We may admire people for being wise, but we like them best when they are foolish. Mary Russell Mitford wise may people Nothing so pretty to look at as my garden! Mary Russell Mitford garden looks She was the prettiest, silliest, most affected, husband-hunting butterfly ever. Mary Russell Mitford hunting butterfly husband I place flowers in the very first rank of simple pleasures; and I have no very good opinion of the hard worldly people who take no delight in them. Mary Russell Mitford flower simple people [On Elizabeth Barrett Browning:] ... for finish, and melody of versification, there is nothing approaching to Miss Barrett in this day, or in any other - also for diction. Her words paint. Mary Russell Mitford diction poet missing [On Elizabeth Barrett Browning:] Her sweetness of character is even beyond her genius. Mary Russell Mitford sweetness genius character Well, great authors are great people - but I believe that they are best seen at a distance. Mary Russell Mitford distance believe people ... they know little of the passions who seek to argue with that most intractable of them all, the fear that is born of love. Mary Russell Mitford passion arguing littles There is no running away from a great grief. Mary Russell Mitford running-away grief running In our present high state of civilization, people are so much alike, that anything at all odd comes on one with the freshness and character of an antique coin among smooth shillings. Mary Russell Mitford character civilization people Trees and children are, of all living things, those whose growth soonest makes one feel one's age. Mary Russell Mitford growth tree children That bad letters of every kind arise from want of the habit of thinking, I cannot doubt. Mary Russell Mitford doubt letters thinking Buonaparte is certainly writing, or rather dictating, his memoirs. He walks backwards and forwards with his hands behind him, and dictates so fast that two or three of his suite are obliged to be in attendance, that the one may take down one-half of a sentence, and another the rest; they then literally compare notes, and put the disjointed legs and wings and heads of periods together. This is writing a book as he fought a battle. Mary Russell Mitford writing wings book
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