Frances Burney Quotes

83 Sourced Quotes

It's a delightful thing to think of perfection; but it's vastly more amusing to talk of errors and absurdities.

Frances Burney
The freedom with which Dr Johnson condemns whatever he disapproves is astonishing.

Frances Burney
Money is the source of the greatest vice, and that nation which is most rich, is most wicked.

Frances Burney
To a heart formed for friendship and affection the charms of solitude are very short-lived.

Frances Burney
I'd rather be done any thing to than laughed at, for, to my mind, it's one or other the disagreeablest thing in the world.

Frances Burney
It has been long and justly remarked, that folly has ever sought alliance with beauty.

Frances Burney
'The whole of this unfortunate business,' said Dr Lyster, 'has been the result of pride and prejudice.'

Frances Burney
He said, 'Madam—may I presume?'—and stopped, offering to take my hand. I... could scarce forbear laughing. 'Allow me, Madam,' continuing he, affectedly breaking off every half moment, 'the honour and happiness... the happiness and honor...'

Frances Burney
Never shall I recollect the occasion he gave me of displeasure, without feeling it renewed.

Frances Burney
Imagination took the reins, and reason, slow-paced, though sure-footed, was unequal to a race with so eccentric and flighty a companion.

Frances Burney
Falsehood is not more unjustifiable than unsafe.

Frances Burney
But authors before they write should read.

Frances Burney
To have some account of my thoughts, manners, acquaintance and actions, when the hour arrives in which time is more nimble than memory, is the reason which induces me to keep a journal: a journal in which I must confess my every thought, must open my whole heart!

Frances Burney
Unused to the situations in which I find myself, and embarrassed by the slightest difficulties, I seldom discover, till too late, how I ought to act.

Frances Burney
Vice is detestable; I banish all its appearances from my coteries; and I would banish its reality, too, were I sure I should then have any thing but empty chairs in my drawing-room.

Frances Burney
Wealth, indeed, per se, I never too much valued, and my acquaintance with its possessors has by no means increased my veneration for it.

Frances Burney
The cure of a romantic first flame is a better surety to subsequent discretion, than all the exhortations of all the fathers, and mothers, and guardians, and maiden aunts in the universe.

Frances Burney
A private ball this was called... but Lord! my dear Sir, I believe I saw half the world!

Frances Burney
How little has situation to do with happiness!

Frances Burney
A little alarm now and then keeps life from stagnation.

Frances Burney
She knows nothing of business, and is made to pay for everything through the nose.

Frances Burney
I looked about for some of my acquaintance, but in vain, for I saw not one person that I knew, which is very odd, for all the world seemed there.

Frances Burney
Can any thing, my good Sir, be more painful to a friendly mind than a necessity of communicating disagreeable intelligence? Indeed, it is sometimes difficult to determine, whether the relater or the receiver of evil tidings is most to be pitied.

Frances Burney