William M. Thackeray
William M. Thackeray
destinies life nursery training
Life is the soul's nursery - Its training place for the destinies of eternity.
coming man pity senses whether
I never know whether to pity or congratulate a man on coming to his senses.
easily english-novelist man worthy
Kindnesses are easily forgotten; but injuries! -- what worthy man does not keep those in mind?
conquer gentlemen lose pray wins
Who misses, or who wins the prize?Go, lose and conquer as you can:But if you fail, or if you rise,Be each, pray God, a gentleman.
ambition courage endure gained greater heart hostile intrigue lost tire
To endure is greater than to dare; to tire out hostile fortune; to be daunted by no difficulty; to keep heart when all have lost it; to go through intrigue spotless; to forego even ambition when the end is gained - who can say this is not greatness?
expenses gentleman lives question word
When we say of a gentleman that he lives elegantly on nothing a year, we use the word "nothing" to signify something unknown; meaning, simply, that we don't know how the gentleman in question defrays the expenses of his establishment.