Works By Letitia Elizabeth Landon

"In partings those who go know not half the suffering of those who stay. In the one case, occupation strengthens, and novelty engages the mind."

"It is so very hard to exchange certainty for hope — to renounce to-day, in expectation of to-morrow."

"We always bear a dignified misfortune best."

"The philosophy of atoms has some truth in it. What exceedingly small motives make the great whole of a fine action !"

"Like many orators, he did not take into consideration, that a good argument is not always a good reason ; and that, unfortunately for the peace of society, and fortunately for debaters, there never was yet a contested point without excellent arguments on both sides of the question."

"What he said of heads may also be said of experience —there is a large stock on hand: but somehow or other, nobody's experience ever suits us except our own."

"Every fable has its moral ; and that of love is disappointment, weariness, or disgust. Young people would avoid falling in love, if — as some story-book observes — young people would but consider."

"Yet there is a period in the lives of most, when the heart open its leaves, like a flower, to all the gentle influences ; — when one beloved step is sweet in its fall beyond all music, and the light of one beloved face is dear as that of heaven ; — when the thoughts are turned to poetry, and a fairy charm is thrown over life's most ordinary occurrences ; Hope, that gentlest astrologer, foretelling a future she herself has created; — when the present is coloured by glad yet softened spirits, buoyant, though too tender for mirth."

"Love is the Columbus of our moral world, and opens, at some period or other, a new hemisphere to our view."

"Not one person in a thousand is capable of a real passion — that intense and overwhelming feeling, before which all others sink into nothingness. It asks for head and heart — now many are deficient in both. Idleness and vanity cause, in nine cases out of ten, that state of excitement which is called being in love. I have heard some even talk of their disappointments, as if such a word could be used in the plural. To be crossed in love, forsooth — why, such a heart could bear as many crosses as a raspberry tart."

"Believing, as I do, that falling in love goes by destiny, and that, of all affairs, those of the heart are those for which there is the least accounting, I have always thought, that to give reasons for its happening, is throwing the said reasons away — a waste much to be deprecated in an age where reasons are in such great request. It is not beauty that inspires love — still less is it mind. It is not situation — people who were indifferent in a moonlight walk, have taken a fit of sentiment in Piccadilly. It is not early association — indeed, the chances are rather against the Paul and Virginia style. It is not dress —conquests have been made in curl-papers. In short — to be mythological in my conclusion — the quiver of Cupid hangs at the girdle of Fate together with her spindle and scissors."

"An old servant dearly loves a little authority — and as for the matter of that, who does not ?"

"The bitterest cup has its one drop of honey."

"He had been used to that greatest of mental pleasures — to have his thoughts often divined — always entered into."

"It is worth while to have an adventure, were it only for the sake of talking about it afterwards."

"The difference between good and bad intentions is this : — that good intentions are so very satisfactory in themselves, that it really seems a work of supererogation to carry them into execution ; whereas evil ones have a restlessness that can only be satisfied by action — and, to the shame of fate be it said, very many facilities always offer for their being effected."

"If not the most unreasonable — that would be saying too much — a girl in love is certainly the most unreasoning of human beings."

"It is curious how little we speculate on what may be the impression we produce on others — unless, indeed, vanity comes into play, and then there is no bound to the speculation. Still, the general feeling is utter indifference."

"Genius has many misfortunes to encounter; but the worst that can befall it, is when it happens to be universal. When a whole world is before it from which to choose, it is rather difficult to decide."

"Small evils make the worst part of great ones : it is so much easier to endure misfortune than to bear an inconvenience."

"Decision is easy where there is no choice."

"I do not think childhood the happiest period of our life ; but its sense of happiness is peculiarly keen. Other days have more means and appliances of pleasure ; but then their relish is not so exquisite. It all, however, comes to the same in the long-run. The child has to learn the multiplication-table — the man has to practise it."

"Much of the trouble we give ourselves is quite unnecessary — it matters very little where a good appetite finds its dinner. However, trouble is, like virtue, its own reward."

"A little praise is good for a very shy temper — it teaches it to rely on the kindness of others."

"The time which passes pleasantly passes lightly ; days are remembered by their cares more than by their content; …"

"The pleasure of change is opposed by that of habit ; and if we love best that to which we are accustomed, we like best that which is new."

"Like the cards which form a child's plaything palace, our pleasures are nicely balanced one upon the other."

"Inclination never wants an excuse — and, if one won't do, there are a dozen others soon found."

"The destruction wrought by time never oppresses the spirits as does that wrought by man."

"Courtesy and curiosity are very often at variance."

"It is worth while to travel, if it be only to enjoy the excitement of some entirely new species of natural beauty."

"Hospitality is the virtue of an uncivilised state, because it is then a useful one. It is a wise moral dispensation, that those virtues are most prevalent which are most wanted."

"People take a traveller's understanding their language as a personal compliment."

"We do not seem sufficiently aware of the beauty of uniformity, or else it is interfered with by our personal vanity. The truth is, that general taste is always good ; because, before it becomes general, it has been compared and corrected : but as for individual taste, the less we have of it the better."

"It is curious how much of its romantic character a country owes to strangers ; perhaps because they know least about it."

"We talk of vanity, discontent, patriotism ; but the real first cause of the passion for politics is the love of talking, inherent in masculine nature."

"It is a curious fact, how violent people get upon political questions, particularly if they are such as do not concern them."

"There is something sublime in being out of humour with the whole world."

"What is Genius but an altar richly wrought in fine gold, and placed in the most sacred and glorious part of the marble temple ? but there the living victim is offered in sacrifice, and the wreath of flowers left to wither."

"The first records of our young world were those of tears and blood ; its last records will be those of tears and blood also."

"[From Mr Morland]: … every man has his motive. One man wants money, the next power, the third title; a fourth desires place for its distinction, a fifth for its influence; a sixth desires popular applause ; a seventh piques himself upon his eloquence, and will display it; an eighth upon his judgment, to which he will have you defer ; a ninth is governed by his wife ; a tenth adopts the opinions of his club ; the eleventh those of a favourite author; the twelfth acts upon some old prejudice which he calls a principle. There are a round dozen of motives for you."

"[From Mr Morland]: Love is followed by disappointment, admiration by mortification, and obligation by ingratitude."

"[From Edward Lorraine]: Imagination is to love what gas is to the balloon — that which raises it from earth."

"[From Edward Lorraine]: But in literature people ought not to be allowed to follow a fashion. A new idea is no sooner started, now-a-days, than it is run even to death. I think the good old Elizabethan plan of monopolies should be revived in favour of literature. An eminent author, in our time, is a species of mental Alexander; he erects a vast empire, out of which fifty small powers parcel little kingdoms and minor principalities."

"[From Edward Lorraine]: At present we avoid warfare — ‘the good swords rust ;' but we are not more peaceably disposed than our ancestors — look at the gauntlet to be run by a successful author. Ingenuity is racked for abuse, and language for its expression : every body takes his success as a personal affront. I think the late invention of steel pens quite characteristic of the age."

"[From Mr Morland]: The subject on which we centre our whole attention acquires an undue importance. Devotion to one single object necessarily narrows the mind. The indifference of others is matter of angry surprise ; and the benefactor of mankind would often fain become its tyrant. We are violent in proportion to our self-exaggeration."

"[From Edward Lorraine]: Nothing is so fortunate for mankind as its diversity of opinion: if we all thought alike — with you, for example — there would at once be an end to all mutual assistance and improvement."

"[From Mr Morland]: ... the young man who acts in early life contrary to his feelings, will, in after years, act contrary to his principles of right."

"[From Mr Morland]: I never knew any debatable point not maintained on both sides by unanswerable arguments ; …"

"[From Lord Mandeville]: From religion, ..., they will learn the only true lesson of equality — the conviction that our destinies are not in our own hands ; they will see that no situation in life is without its share of suffering ; — and this perpetual reference to a higher power ought equally to teach the rich humility, and the poor devotion."