Catherine Helen Spence Quotes

• Nothing is insignificant in the history of a young community, and - above all - nothing seems impossible.

  Catherine Helen Spence

  Community, Impossible, Young

  Catherine Helen Spence “An Autobiography”, Library of Alexandria

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• There is nothing so costly to the state as a ruined life

  Catherine Helen Spence

  Wisdom, Australia, States

  Catherine Helen Spence (1907). “State Children in Australia: A History of Boarding Out and Its Developments”

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• I had only two offers of marriage in my life, and I refused both.

  Catherine Helen Spence

  Marriage, Two, Offers

  Catherine Helen Spence, Susan Magarey, Maryan Beams (2005). “Ever Yours, C.H. Spence: Catherine Helen Spence's An Autobiography (1825-1910), Diary (1894) and Some Correspondence (1894-1910)”, p.45, Wakefield Press

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• Drinking habits were very prevalent among men, and were not in any way disgraceful, unless excessive.

  Catherine Helen Spence

  Drinking, Men, Way

  Catherine Helen Spence, Susan Magarey, Maryan Beams (2005). “Ever Yours, C.H. Spence: Catherine Helen Spence's An Autobiography (1825-1910), Diary (1894) and Some Correspondence (1894-1910)”, p.23, Wakefield Press

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• A glass of whisky in Scotland in the thirties cost less than a cup of tea.

  Catherine Helen Spence

  Glasses, Scotland, Tea

  Catherine Helen Spence, Susan Magarey, Maryan Beams (2005). “Ever Yours, C.H. Spence: Catherine Helen Spence's An Autobiography (1825-1910), Diary (1894) and Some Correspondence (1894-1910)”, p.23, Wakefield Press

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• I had learned what wealth was, and a great deal about production and exchange for myself in the early history of South Australia - of the value of machinery, of roads and bridges, and of ports for transport and export.

  Catherine Helen Spence

  Bridges, Australia, Wealth

  Catherine Helen Spence, Susan Magarey, Maryan Beams (2005). “Ever Yours, C.H. Spence: Catherine Helen Spence's An Autobiography (1825-1910), Diary (1894) and Some Correspondence (1894-1910)”, p.49, Wakefield Press

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• I count myself well educated, for the admirable woman at the head of the school which I attended from the age of four and a half till I was thirteen and a half, was a born teacher in advance of her own times.

  Catherine Helen Spence

  Teacher, School, Age

  Catherine Helen Spence “An Autobiography”, Library of Alexandria

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• I look back to a happy childhood.

  Catherine Helen Spence

  Childhood, Looks, Happy Childhood

  Catherine Helen Spence, Susan Magarey, Maryan Beams (2005). “Ever Yours, C.H. Spence: Catherine Helen Spence's An Autobiography (1825-1910), Diary (1894) and Some Correspondence (1894-1910)”, p.20, Wakefield Press

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• As we grew to love South Australia, we felt that we were in an expanding society, still feeling the bond to the motherland, but eager to develop a perfect society in the land of our adoption.

  Catherine Helen Spence

  Love, Land, Australia

  Catherine Helen Spence “An Autobiography”, Library of Alexandria

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• South Australia was the first community to give the secret ballot for political elections.

  Catherine Helen Spence

  Australia, Giving, Community

  Catherine Helen Spence “An Autobiography”, Library of Alexandria

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• After the break up of the municipality and the loss of his income my father lost health and spirits.

  Catherine Helen Spence

  Break Up, Breakup, Father

  Catherine Helen Spence, Susan Magarey, Maryan Beams (2005). “Ever Yours, C.H. Spence: Catherine Helen Spence's An Autobiography (1825-1910), Diary (1894) and Some Correspondence (1894-1910)”, p.40, Wakefield Press

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• Probably my mother's life was prolonged beyond that of a long-lived family by her coming to Australia in middle life; and if I ever had any tendency to consumption, the climate must have helped me.

  Catherine Helen Spence

  Mother, Australia, Long

  Catherine Helen Spence “An Autobiography”, Library of Alexandria

  8 Copy quote

• I had seen Adelaide the dearest and the cheapest place to live in.

  Catherine Helen Spence

  Adelaide, Places To Live

  Catherine Helen Spence, Susan Magarey, Maryan Beams (2005). “Ever Yours, C.H. Spence: Catherine Helen Spence's An Autobiography (1825-1910), Diary (1894) and Some Correspondence (1894-1910)”, p.49, Wakefield Press

  6 Copy quote

• I think I was well brought up, for my father and mother were of one mind regarding the care of the family.

  Catherine Helen Spence

  Mother, Father, Thinking

  Catherine Helen Spence “An Autobiography”, Library of Alexandria

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• My return to London introduced me to a wider range of society.

  Catherine Helen Spence

  London, Return, Range

  Catherine Helen Spence, Susan Magarey, Maryan Beams (2005). “Ever Yours, C.H. Spence: Catherine Helen Spence's An Autobiography (1825-1910), Diary (1894) and Some Correspondence (1894-1910)”, p.79, Wakefield Press

  4 Copy quote

• My brothers went to the parish school, one of the best in the county.

  Catherine Helen Spence

  Brother, School, County

  Catherine Helen Spence “An Autobiography”, Library of Alexandria

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• Our South Australian farmers left their holdings in the hands of their wives and children too young to take with them, but almost all of them returned to grow grain and produce to send to Victoria.

  Catherine Helen Spence

  Children, Hands, Wife

  Catherine Helen Spence, Susan Magarey, Maryan Beams (2005). “Ever Yours, C.H. Spence: Catherine Helen Spence's An Autobiography (1825-1910), Diary (1894) and Some Correspondence (1894-1910)”, p.61, Wakefield Press

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• The first issue of The Register was printed in London, and gave a glowing account of the province that was to be - its climate, its resources, the sound principles on which it was founded.

  Catherine Helen Spence

  Glowing, Issues, Sound

  Catherine Helen Spence “An Autobiography”, Library of Alexandria

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• The Town Clerkship, however, was the means of giving me a lesson in electoral methods.

  Catherine Helen Spence

  Mean, Giving, Lessons

  Catherine Helen Spence “An Autobiography”, Library of Alexandria

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• Even before the discovery of copper South Australia had turned the corner.

  Catherine Helen Spence

  Discovery, Australia, Copper

  Catherine Helen Spence, Susan Magarey, Maryan Beams (2005). “Ever Yours, C.H. Spence: Catherine Helen Spence's An Autobiography (1825-1910), Diary (1894) and Some Correspondence (1894-1910)”, p.49, Wakefield Press

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