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The laws of custom make our [returning a visit] necessary. O how I hate this vile custom which obliges us to make slaves of ourselves! to sell the most precious property we boast, our time--and to sacrifice it to every prattling impertinent who chooses to demand it!

Fanny Burney

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Fanny Burney
Every
Slave
Chooses
Make
Property
Boast
Time
Laws
Slaves
Demand
Visit
Obliges
Sacrifice
Customs
Impertinent
Necessary
Precious
Vile
Law
Sell
Returning
Hate
Sells
Custom

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How little has situation to do with happiness.
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The Spring is generally fertile in new acquaintances.
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In England, I was quite struck to see how forward the girls are made--a child of 10 years old, will chat and keep you company, while her parents are busy or out etc.--with the ease of a woman of 26. But then, how does this education go on?--Not at all: it absolutely stops short.
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Can any thing, my good Sir, be more painful to a friendly mind than a necessity of communicating disagreeable intelligence? Indeed, it is sometimes difficult to determine, whether the relater or the receiver of evil tidings is most to be pitied.
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Far from having taken any positive step, I have not yet even fommed any resolution.
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How truly does this journal contain my real and undisguised thoughts--I always write it according to the humour I am in, and if astranger was to think it worth reading, how capricious--insolent & whimsical I must appear!--one moment flighty and half mad,--the next sad and melancholy. No matter! Its truth and simplicity are its sole recommendations.
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Childhood is never troubled with foresight.
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She [Evelina] is not, indeed, like most modern young ladies to be known in half an hour her modest worth, and fearful excellence, require both time and encouragement to show themselves.
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To despise riches, may, indeed, be philosophic, but to dispense them worthily, must surely be more beneficial to mankind.
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O! how short a time does it take to put an end to a woman's liberty!
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I cannot be much pleased without an appearance of truth at least of possibility I wish the history to be natural though the sentiments are refined and the characters to be probable, though their behaviour is excelling
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the right line of conduct is the same for both sexes, though the manner in which it is pursued, may somewhat vary, and be accommodated to the strength or weakness of the different travelers.
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to diminish expectation is to increase enjoyment.
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To a heart formed for friendship and affection the charms of solitude are very short-lived.
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Imagination took the reins, and reason, slow-paced, though sure-footed, was unequal to a race with so eccentric and flighty a companion.
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To have some account of my thoughts, manners, acquaintance and actions, when the hour arrives in which time is more nimble than memory, is the reason which induces me to keep a journal: a journal in which I must confess my every thought, must open my whole heart!
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People who live together naturally catch the looks and air of one another and without having one feature alike, they contract a something in the whole countenance which strikes one as a resemblance
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. . . men seldom risk their lives where an escape is without hope of recompense.
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You have sensible women here [in England] but then, they are very devils--censorious, uncharitable, sarcastic--the women in Scotland have twice--thrice their freedom, with all their virtue--and are very conversable and agreeable--their educations are more finished.
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Misery is a guest that we are glad to part with, however certain of her speedy return.
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