The worst of doing one's duty was that it apparently unfitted one for doing anything else.

Quote by Edith Wharton

Topics: Edith Wharton Quotes

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

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

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...

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...

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.

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.

The air of ideas is the only air worth breathing.

The air of ideas is the only air worth breathing.

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...

Silence may be as variously shaded as speech.

Silence may be as variously shaded as speech.

A New York divorce is in itself a diploma of virtue.

A New York divorce is in itself a diploma of virtue.

I despair of the Republic! Such dreariness, such whining sallow women, such utter absence of...

I despair of the Republic! Such dreariness, such whining sallow women, such utter absence of...

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...

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...

I don't know if I should care for a man who made life easy; I...

I don't know if I should care for a man who made life easy; I...

My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet.

My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet.

The only way not to think about money is to have a great deal of...

The only way not to think about money is to have a great deal of...

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.

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

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

Life is the only real counselor; wisdom unfiltered through personal experience does not become a...

Life is the only real counselor; wisdom unfiltered through personal experience does not become a...

Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens...

Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens...

Never, for the sake of peace and quiet, deny your own experience or convictions

Never, for the sake of peace and quiet, deny your own experience or convictions

We lay aside letters never to read them again, and at last we destroy them...

We lay aside letters never to read them again, and at last we destroy them...