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Margaret Cavendish
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“O Love, how thou art tired out with rhyme! / Thou art a tree whereon all poets clime ...”
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“... poetry consists not so much in number, words, and phrase, as in fancy.”
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“... it hath been a long and true observation, that every one had rather speak than listen to what another says; insomuch as for the most part all mankind run from company to company, not to learn, but to talk, and like bells their tongues as the clappers keep a jangling noise all at once, without method or distinction.”
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“... I must say this in the behalf of my thoughts, that I never found them idle; for if the senses bring no work in, they will work of themselves, like silk-worms that spins out of their own bowels.”
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“Marriage is the grave or tomb of wit.”
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“The truth is, we [women] live like bats, or owls, labor like beasts, and die like worms. ”
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“... it is a greater honour to have more Merit than Title, than to have more Title than Merit. ”
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“... one may be my very good friend, and yet not of my opinion ...”
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“... every one's Conscience in Religion is betwixt God and themselves, and it belongs to none other.”
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“... some Men are of that Humour, as they hate Honest, Chast Women, not onely out of a Despair of their Enjoyments, but that they love the Company and Conversation of Wanton and Free Women, insomuch that a Courtesan shall have a greater and stronger Power to Cause and Perswade Men to do Actions not onely to the ruin of their Estates and Families, but to the Ruin of their Honour and Reputation, nay, to make them Unnatural, Extravagant or Base, than an Honest Chast Wife hath to Perswade her Husband to keep his Estate, Honour, or Honesty ...”
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“... the Marriage-bed proves the Grave of Love ...”
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“... all Compliments Exceed the Truth ...”
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“... every Place is Pleasant to a Chearful Mind and Lively Thoughts, which makes the Life Happy, for True Happiness Lives Within the Mind or Soul, not Without it, and whosoever build their Happiness Without it, shall Miss it when they Seek it, nay, those Buildings are like Airy Castles, which Vanish to nothing ...”
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“... I think a bad husband is far worse than no husband ...”
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“... the Difference betwixt a Wise man and a Fool is, that a Wise man carries his Happiness still Within him, and a Fool is alwayes Seeking it Without him, & seldom or never Meets it, the other never Seeks it, for he alwayes hath it ...”
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“... who can Perswade more Powerfully than Poets?”
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“Nature, being a wise and provident lady, governs her parts very wisely, methodically, and orderly: Also, she is very industrious and hates to be idle, which makes her employ her time as a good housewife doth.”
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“Marriage is a curse we find, / Especially to womankind ...”
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“... I verily believe some censuring Readers will scornfully say, why hath this Lady writ her own Life? since none cares to know whose daughter she was or whose wife she is, or how she was bred, or what fortunes she had, or how she lived, or what humor or disposition she was of? I answer that it is true, that 'tis to no purpose to the Readers, but it is to the Authoress, because I write it for my own sake, not theirs.”
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“Thoughts are like stars in the firmament; some are fixed, others like the wandering planets, others again are only like meteors. Understanding is like the Sun, which gives light to all the thoughts. Memory is like the Moon, it hath its new, its full and its wane. ”
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“Some brains are barren grounds, that will not bring seed or fruit forth, unless they are well manured with the old wit which is raked from other writers and speakers.”
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“Prosperity is like perfume, it often makes the head ache.”
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“Pain and Oblivion make mankind afraid to die; but all creatures are afraid of the one, none but mankind afraid of the other.”
Margaret Cavendish, English essayist, poet, playwright
(1624 - 1674)
Full name: Margaret Lucas Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle