Anthony Trollope Quotes

345 Sourced Quotes

Needless to deny that the normal London plumber is a dishonest man. We do not even allow ourselves to think so. That question, as to the dishonesty of mankind generally, is one that disturbs us greatly; — whether a man in all grades of life will by degrees train his honesty to suit his own book, so that the course of life which he shall bring himself to regard as soundly honest shall, if known to his neighbours, subject him to their reproof. We own to a doubt whether the honesty of a bishop would shine bright as the morning star to the submissive ladies who now worship him, if the theory of life upon which he lives were understood by them in all its bearings.

Anthony Trollope
He had so accustomed himself to wield the constitutional cat-of-nine-tails, that heaven will hardly be happy to him unless he be allowed to flog the cherubim.

Anthony Trollope
Any one prominent in affairs can always see when a man may steal a horse and when a man may not look over a hedge.

Anthony Trollope
Gentlemen lacking substantial sympathy with their leader found it to be comfortable to deceive themselves, and raise their hearts at the same time by the easy enthusiasm of noise.

Anthony Trollope
Men when they are true are simple. They are often false has hell, and then they are crafty as Lucifer. But the man who is true judges others by himself, — almost without reflection. A woman can be true as steel and cunning at the same time.

Anthony Trollope
Ride at any fence hard enough, and the chances are you'll get over. The harder you ride the heavier the fall, if you get a fall; but the greater the chance of your getting over.

Anthony Trollope
In political matters it is very hard for a man in office to be purer than his neighbours, — and, when he is so, he becomes troublesome.

Anthony Trollope
Then Lady Chiltern argued the matter on views directly opposite to those which she had put forward when discussing the matter with her husband.

Anthony Trollope
It is a grand thing to rise in the world. The ambition to do so is the very salt of the earth. It is the parent of all enterprise, and the cause of all improvement.

Anthony Trollope
Three hours a day will produce as much as a man ought to write.

Anthony Trollope
Frankfort is the capital of Kentucky, and is as quietly a dull town as I ever visited.… The legislature of the state was not sitting when I was there, and the grass was growing in the streets.

Anthony Trollope
But the school in which good training is most practiced will, as a rule, turn out the best scholars.

Anthony Trollope
The apostle of Christianity and the infidel can meet without a chance of a quarrel; but it is never safe to bring together two men who differ about a saint or a surplice.

Anthony Trollope
He was essentially a truth-speaking man, if only he know how to speak the truth.

Anthony Trollope
He don't look the sort of fellow I like; but he's got money and he comes here, and he's good looking, — and therefore he'll be a success.

Anthony Trollope
To have her meals, and her daily walk, and her fill of novels, and to be left alone, was all that she asked of the gods.

Anthony Trollope
Take away from English authors their copyrights, and you would very soon take away from England her authors.

Anthony Trollope
The Rev. Septimus Harding was, a few years since, a beneficed clergyman residing in the cathedral town of _____; let us call it Barchester. Were we to name Wells or Salisbury, Exeter, Hereford, or Gloucester, it might be presumed that something personal was intended; and as this tale will refer mainly to the cathedral dignitaries of the of the town in question, we are anxious that no personality may be suspected.

Anthony Trollope
[An attorney] can find it consistent with his dignity to turn wrong into right, and right into wrong, to abet a lie, nay to create, disseminate, and with all the play of his wit, give strength to the basest of lies, on behalf of the basest of scoundrels.

Anthony Trollope
I cannot hold with those who wish to put down the insignificant chatter of the world.

Anthony Trollope
"I can never bring myself to believe it, John," said Mary Walker, the pretty daughter of Mr. George Walker, attorney, of Silverbridge.

Anthony Trollope
When the little dog snarls, the big dog does not connect the snarl with himself, simply fancying that the little dog must be uncomfortable.

Anthony Trollope
Had some inscrutable decree of fate ordained and made it certain, with a certainty not to be disturbed, that no candidate could be returned to Parliament who would not assert the earth to be triangular, there would rise immediately a clamorous assertion of triangularity among political aspirants. The test would be innocent. Candidates have swallowed, and daily do swallow, many a worse one. As might be this doctrine of a great triangle, so is the doctrine of Home Rule. Why is a gentleman of property to be kept out in the cold by some O'Mullins because he will not mutter an unmeaning shibboleth? "Triangular? Yes, or lozenge-shaped, if you please; but, gentleman, I am the man for Tipperary."

Anthony Trollope
Because we have been removing restraints on Papal aggression, while other nations have been imposing restraints. There are those at Rome who believe all England to be Romish at heart, because here in England a Roman Catholic can say what he will, and print what he will.

Anthony Trollope
Many people talk much, and then very many people talk very much more.

Anthony Trollope
Speeches easy to young speakers are generally very difficult to old listeners.

Anthony Trollope
But between you and me there should be no mention of law as the guide of conduct. Speak to me of honour, of duty, and of nobility; and tell me what they require of you.

Anthony Trollope
Flirting I take to be the excitement of love, without its reality, and without its ordinary result in marriage.

Anthony Trollope
I fancy that he will be a great statesman. After all, Mr. Finn, that is the best thing a man can be, unless it is given him to be a saint and a martyr and all that kind of thing, — which is not just what a mother looks for.

Anthony Trollope
Since woman's rights have come up a young woman is better able to fight her own battle.

Anthony Trollope