Elizabeth Montagu Quotes

• I endeavor to drink deep of philosophy, and to be wise when I cannot be merry, easy when I cannot be glad, content with what cannot be mended, and patient where there is no redress. The mighty can do no more, and the wise seldom do as much. ... I am resolved to make the best of all circumstances around me, that this short life may not be half lost in pains ... Between the periods of birth and burial, I would fain insert a little happiness, a little pleasure, a little peace: to-day is ours, yesterday is past, and to-morrow may never come.

  Elizabeth Montagu

  Wise, Wisdom, Pain

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• Not to be miserable is all some people are capable of.

  Elizabeth Montagu

  People, Miserable, Capable

  Elizabeth Robinson Montagu, Mrs. Montagu (Elizabeth) (1809). “The letters of Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu: with some of the letters of her correspondents”, p.23

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• I often think that those people are the happiest who know nothing at all of the world, and sitting in the little empire of the fireside, where there is no contention or cabal, think we are in a golden age of existance.

  Elizabeth Montagu

  Thinking, People, Age

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• The only thing one can do one day one did not do the day before is to die.

  Elizabeth Montagu

  One Day, Can Do, Dies

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• I never invite idiots to my house.

  Elizabeth Montagu

  House, Idiot, Invites

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• I endeavor to be wise when I cannot be merry, easy when I cannot be glad, content with what cannot be mended, and patient when there be no redress.

  Elizabeth Montagu

  Wise, Patient, Easy

  Elizabeth Montagu, Emily J. Climenson (2011). “Elizabeth Montagu, the Queen of the Bluestockings: Her Correspondence from 1720 to 1761”, p.36, Cambridge University Press

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• Any wife will save you from purgatory, and a diligent one will secure heaven to you.

  Elizabeth Montagu

  Wife, Heaven, Purgatory

  Elizabeth Montagu (2015). “The Letters of Mrs Elizabeth Montagu”, p.116, Cambridge University Press

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• it is more to my personal happiness and advantage to indulge the love and admiration of excellence, than to cherish a secret envy of it.

  Elizabeth Montagu

  Envy, Secret, Excellence

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• The muses crown virtue when fortune refuses to do it.

  Elizabeth Montagu

  Crowns, Muse, Virtue

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• The outrages of the powerful, the insolence of the rich, scorn of the proud, and malice of the uncharitable, all beating against the broken spirit of the unfortunate.

  Elizabeth Montagu

  Powerful, Broken Spirit, Proud

  Elizabeth Robinson Montagu, Mrs. Montagu (Elizabeth) (1809). “The letters of Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu: with some of the letters of her correspondents”, p.226

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• I always wish to find great virtues where there are great talents, and to love what I admire.

  Elizabeth Montagu

  Wish, Admiration, Talent

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• It is very unreasonable of people to expect one should be at home, because one is in the house. Of all privileges, that of invisibility is the most valuable.

  Elizabeth Montagu

  Home, People, House

  Elizabeth Robinson Montagu, Mrs. Montagu (Elizabeth) (1809). “The letters of Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu: with some of the letters of her correspondents”, p.78

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• Among many reasons for being stupid it may be urged, it is being like other people, and living like one's neighbours, and indeed without it, it may be difficult to love some neighbours as oneself: now seeing the necessity of being dull, you won't, I hope, take it amiss that you find me so.

  Elizabeth Montagu

  Stupid, People, Dull

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• You will find many a creature by earth, air, and water, that is more beautiful than a woman.

  Elizabeth Montagu

  Beautiful, Air, Water

  Elizabeth Montagu (2015). “The Letters of Mrs Elizabeth Montagu”, p.118, Cambridge University Press

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• Our collection of men is very antique, they stand in my list thus: A man of sense, a little rusty, a beau a good deal the worse for wearing, a coxcomb extremely shattered, a pretty gentleman very insipid, a baronet very solemn, a squire very fat, a fop much affected, a barrister learned in Coke upon Littleton, but who knows nothing of `long ways for marry as will', an heir apparent, very awkward; which of these will cast a favourable eye upon me I don't know.

  Elizabeth Montagu

  Eye, Men, Long

  Elizabeth Montagu, Emily J. Climenson (2011). “Elizabeth Montagu, the Queen of the Bluestockings: Her Correspondence from 1720 to 1761”, p.31, Cambridge University Press

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• Few people know anything of the English history but what they learn from Shakespear; for our story is rather a tissue of personal adventures and catastrophes than a series of political events.

  Elizabeth Montagu

  Adventure, English History, People

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• She kindly laments that I am not of the party, and to be sure I honour great ladies, and I admire great wits, but I am of the same opinion in regard to assemblies that is held concerning oysters, that they are never good in a month that has not the letter R in it.

  Elizabeth Montagu

  Party, Oysters, Letters

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• Will an intelligent spectator not admire the prodigeous structures of Stone-Henge because he does not know by what law of mechanics they were raised?

  Elizabeth Montagu

  Intelligent, Law, Stones

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• To judge therefore of Shakespeare by Aristotle's rule is like trying a man by the Laws of one Country who acted under those of another.

  Elizabeth Montagu

  Country, Men, Law

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