Quote

A man is seldom more manly than when he is what you call unmanned,--the source of his emotion is championship, pity, and courage the instinctive desire to cherish those who are innocent and unhappy, and defend those who are tender and weak.

William Makepeace Thackeray

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William Makepeace Thackeray
Age: 52 †
Born: 1811
Born: July 18
Died: 1863
Died: December 24
Novelist
Prosaist
Writer
Calcutta
William Makepeace Thackeray
George Fitz-Boodle
Source
Seldom
Emotion
Defend
Call
Pity
Unmanned
Desire
Unhappy
Instinctive
Men
Innocent
Manly
Weak
Tender
Tears
Championship
Courage
Cherish

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I want a sofa, as I want a friend, upon which I can repose familiarly. If you can't have intimate terms and freedom with one and the other, they are of no good.
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So, with their usual sense of justice, ladies argue that because a woman is handsome, therefore she is a fool. O ladies, ladies! there are some of you who are neither handsome nor wise.
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How grateful are we--how touched a frank and generous heart is for a kind word extended to us in our pain! The pressure of a tender hand nerves a man for an operation, and cheers him for the dreadful interview with the surgeon.
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Vanity is often the unseen spur.
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What woman, however old, has not the bridal-favours and raiment stowed away, and packed in lavender, in the inmost cupboards of her heart?
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Come children, let us shut up the box and the puppets, for our play is played out.
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Tis misfortune that awakens ingenuity, or fortitude, or endurance, in hearts where these qualities had never come to life but for the circumstance which gave them a being.
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A woman's heart is just like a lithographer's stone what is once written upon it cannot be rubbed out.
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When I walk with you I feel as if I had a flower in my buttonhole.
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He that has ears to hear, let him stuff them with cotton.
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The unambitious sluggard pretends that the eminence is not worth attaining, declines altogether the struggle, and calls himself a philosopher. I say he is a poor-spirited coward.
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Happiest time of youth and life, when love is first spoken and returned when the dearest eyes are daily shining welcome, and the fondest lips never tire of whispering their sweet secrets when the parting look that accompanies Good night! gives delightful warning of tomorrow.
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We pass by common objects or persons without noticing them but the keen eye detects and notes types everywhere and among all classes.
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Kindness is very indigestible. It disagrees with very proud stomachs.
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Alas! we are the sport of destiny.
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To forego even ambition when the end is gained - who can say this is not greatness?
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Novels are sweets. All people with healthy literary appetites love them-almost all women a vast number of clever, hardheaded men.
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She lived in her past life — every letter seemed to recall some circumstance of it. How well she remembered them all! His looks and tones, his dress, what he said and how — these relics and remembrances of dead affection were all that were left her in the world.
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A clever, ugly man every now and then is successful with the ladies, but a handsome fool is irresistible.
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Tis hard with respect to Beauty, that its possessor should not have a life enjoyment of it, but be compelled to resign it after, at the most, some forty years lease
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