400 Quotes by William Makepeace Thackeray

Kind voices bade him turn and rest and gentle faces welcomed him.

Bless railroads everywhere,' I said, ' / and the world's advance; / Bless every railroad share / In Italy, Ireland, France; / For never a beggar need now despair, / And every rogue has a chance.'

Dinners are given mostly in the middle classes by way of revenge.

If a man’s character is to be abused, say what you will, there’s nobody like a relation to do the business.

A smiling face often hides an aching heart; I promise you mine did in that coat, and not my heart only, but other regions. There is a skeleton in every house.

The world is a looking glass and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it, and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly kind companion.

A snob is that man or woman who is always pretending to be something better especially richer or more fashionable than he is.

Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world always yields; or if it beats you sometimes, dare it again, and it will succumb.

Never lose a chance of saying a kind word