The air of ideas is the only air worth breathing.

Quote by Edith Wharton

Topics: Edith Wharton Quotes

Life is always a tightrope or a feather bed. Give me the tightrope.

Life is always a tightrope or a feather bed. Give me the tightrope.

Habit is necessary; it is the habit of having habits, of turning a trail into...

Habit is necessary; it is the habit of having habits, of turning a trail into...

Art is on the side of the oppressed. Think before you shudder at the simplistic...

Art is on the side of the oppressed. Think before you shudder at the simplistic...

True originality consists not in a new manner but in a new vision.

True originality consists not in a new manner but in a new vision.

To be able to look life in the face: that's worth living in a garret...

To be able to look life in the face: that's worth living in a garret...

What's the use of making mysteries? It only makes people want to nose 'em out.

What's the use of making mysteries? It only makes people want to nose 'em out.

Misfortune had made Lily supple instead of hardening her, and a pliable substance is less...

Misfortune had made Lily supple instead of hardening her, and a pliable substance is less...

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that...

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that...

I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in...

I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in...

It would presently be his task to take the bandage from this young woman's eyes,...

It would presently be his task to take the bandage from this young woman's eyes,...

The American landscape has no foreground and the American mind no background.

The American landscape has no foreground and the American mind no background.

They seemed to come suddenly upon happiness as if they had surprised a butterfly in...

They seemed to come suddenly upon happiness as if they had surprised a butterfly in...

There are moments when a man's imagination so easily subdued to what it lives in,...

There are moments when a man's imagination so easily subdued to what it lives in,...

If only we'd stop trying to be happy we'd have a pretty good time.

If only we'd stop trying to be happy we'd have a pretty good time.

I have never known a novel that was good enough to be good in spite...

I have never known a novel that was good enough to be good in spite...

When people ask for time, it's always for time to say no. Yes has one...

When people ask for time, it's always for time to say no. Yes has one...

Old age, calm, expanded, broad with the haughty breadth of the universe, old age flowing...

Old age, calm, expanded, broad with the haughty breadth of the universe, old age flowing...

Too many people grow up. That's the real trouble with the world, too many people...

Too many people grow up. That's the real trouble with the world, too many people...

Sure I'm for helping the elderly. I'm going to be old myself someday.

Sure I'm for helping the elderly. I'm going to be old myself someday.

The old gray mare just ain't what she used to be

The old gray mare just ain't what she used to be