William M. Thackeray
William M. Thackeray
author engaging familiar good powers writers-and-writing
The two most engaging powers of a good author are to make new things familiar and familiar things new.
fool fools-and-foolishness life loves luther martin sing
Then sing as Martin Luther sang:"Who loves not wine, woman, and song,He is a fool his whole life long!
box played shut
Come, children, let us shut up the box and the puppets, for our play is played out.
ah fate great small vanity weak
Ah vanity of vanities! How wayward the decrees of fate are, How very weak the very wise, How very small the very great are
ah fate great small vanity weak
Ah vanity of vanities! How wayward the decrees of fate are, How very weak the very wise, How very small the very great are
absolute beasts entirely exercise fair knees marry mercy overcome positive powers resist thankful whom woman women
And oh, what a mercy it is that these women do not exercise their powers oftener! We can't resist them, if they do. Let them show ever so little inclination, and men go down on their knees at once: old or ugly, it is all the same. And this I set down as a positive truth. A woman with fair opportunities, and without an absolute hump, may marry whom she likes. Only let us be thankful that the darlings are like the beasts of the field, and don't know their own power. They would overcome us entirely if they did.