Quote

I sometimes wonder what it would be like to be the respected patriarch of an ordinary English family. Very boring, Emerson.

Barbara Mertz

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Barbara Mertz
Age: 85 †
Born: 1927
Born: September 29
Died: 2013
Died: August 8
Archaeologist
Author
Egyptologist
Novelist
Writer
Canton
Illinois
Elizabeth Peters
Barbara Michaels
Barbara Louise Mertz
Boring
English
Ordinary
Wonder
Family
Sometimes
Patriarch
Would
Emerson
Like
Respected

More quotes by Barbara Mertz

Image
I can do a book in three months if I spend all day, seven days a week at it and, in fact, I work better that way.
Barbara Mertz
Image
Humor is an excellent method of keeping a tight rein on unproductive displays of emotion.
Barbara Mertz
Image
Your trousers are on fire. I would have told you, but you so dislike advice.
Barbara Mertz
Image
Is is difficult to be angry with a gentleman who pays you compliments, even impertinent compliments. Especially impertinent compliments.
Barbara Mertz
Image
The only people who are not in awe of Emerson's powerful voice and well-nigh superhuman strength are the members of his own family. He is aware of this, and often complains about it so from time to time I like to put on a little show of being intimidated. 'Proceed, my dear,' I said apologetically.
Barbara Mertz
Image
A fondness for martyrdom, especially of the verbal variety, is common to the young.
Barbara Mertz
Image
If you take a man by surprise, and behave with sufficient arrogance, he will generally do what you ask. -Emerson
Barbara Mertz
Image
Many persons lead lives of crushing boredom.
Barbara Mertz
Image
That's maturity-when you realize that you've finally arrived at a state of ignorance as profound as your parents.
Barbara Mertz
Image
I am so tired of ruggedly handsome heroes. I don't know too many ruggedly handsome people who are necessarily nice people. In fact, the beautiful people have a big handicap because they rely too much on their appearance and don't bother to become interesting.
Barbara Mertz
Image
Martyrdom is often the result of excessive gullibility.
Barbara Mertz
Image
Sometimes the characters develop almost without your knowing it. You find them doing things you hadn't planned on, and then I have to go back to page 42 and fix things. I'm not recommending it as a way to write. It's very sloppy, but it works for me.
Barbara Mertz
Image
I do not scruple to employ mendacity and a fictitious appearance of female incompetence when the occasion demands it.
Barbara Mertz
Image
Dogs can be made to feel guilty about anything, including the sins of their owners. Cats refuse to take the blame for anything - including their own sins.
Barbara Mertz
Image
Cats always made up to the people who hated them the most. Depending on how you chose to look at it, it was a touching manifestation of trust, or a malicious pleasure in human discomfort.
Barbara Mertz
Image
Loving someone condemns you to a lifetime of fear. You become painfully conscious of how fragile people are - bundles of brittle bones and vulnerable flesh, breeding grounds for billions of deadly germs and horrible diseases.
Barbara Mertz
Image
Nefret had always had an uncanny ability to read his thoughts. 'Did she cry?' she asked sweetly. 'And then you kissed her? You shouldn't have done that. I'm sure you meant well, but kissing someone out of pity is always a mistake.
Barbara Mertz
Image
Getting an idea for a book is not the problem, but you need 300 ideas - an idea a page.
Barbara Mertz
Image
The approval of a cat cannot but flatter the recipient.
Barbara Mertz
Image
If all else fails, we will simply have to drug our attendants, overpower the guards, raise the oppressed peasants to arms, and take over the government.
Barbara Mertz