Agnes Repplier
Agnes Repplier
Agnes Repplierwas an American essayist...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth1 April 1855
CountryUnited States of America
learning personality twelve
I wonder what especial sanctity attaches itself to fifteen minutes. It is always the maximum and the minimum of time which will enable us to acquire languages, etiquette, personality, oratory ... One gathers that twelve minutes a day would be hopelessly inadequate, and twenty minutes a wasteful and ridiculous excess.
eight two punctuation-marks
[Mary Wortley Montagu] wrote more letters, with fewer punctuation marks, than any Englishwoman of her day; and her nephew, the fourth Baron Rokeby, nearly blinded himself in deciphering the two volumes of undated correspondence which were printed in 1810. Two more followed in 1813, after which the gallant Baron either died at his post or was smitten with despair; for sixty-eight cases of letters lay undisturbed ... 'Les morts n'écrivent point,' said Madame de Maintenon hopefully; but of what benefit is this inactivity, when we still continue to receive their letters?
inspiration intelligent men
Conversation in its happiest development is a link, equally exquisite and adequate, between mind and mind, a system by which men approach one another with sympathy and enjoyment, a field for the finest amenities of civilization, for the keenest and most intelligent display of social activity. It is also our solace, our inspiration, and our most rational pleasure. It is a duty we owe to one another; it is our common debt to humanity.
people understanding pins
People who pin their faith to a catchword never feel the necessity of understanding anything.
healing political doubt
Believers in political faith-healing enjoy a supreme immunity from doubt.
kindness giving quality
to be civilized is to be incapable of giving unnecessary offense, it is to have some quality of consideration for all who cross our path.
knowledge learning charming
Erudition, like a bloodhound, is a charming thing when held firmly in leash, but it is not so attractive when turned loose upon a defenseless and unerudite public.
law optimism triumph
There is an optimism which nobly anticipates the eventual triumph of great moral laws, and there is an optimism which cheerfully tolerates unworthiness.
dog common-sense puppy
A puppy is but a dog, plus high spirits, and minus common sense.
support choices analysis
The choice of a topic which will bear analysis and support enthusiasm, is essential to the enjoyment of conversation.
earth may mars
Science may carry us to Mars, but it will leave the earth peopled as ever by the inept.
happiness joy grace
The gayety of life, like the beauty and the moral worth of life, is a saving grace, which to ignore is folly, and to destroy is crime. There is no more than we need; there is barely enough to go round.
truth naked nudity
There are few nudities so objectionable as the naked truth.
strong writing careers
A villain must be a thing of power, handled with delicacy and grace. He must be wicked enough to excite our aversion, strong enough to arouse our fear, human enough to awaken some transient gleam of sympathy. We must triumph in his downfall, yet not barbarously nor with contempt, and the close of his career must be in harmony with all its previous development.