Take back the beauty and wit you bestow upon me; leave me my own mediocrity of agreeableness and genius, but leave me also my sincerity, my constancy, and my plain dealing; 'tis all I have to recommend me to the esteem either of others or myself.

Mary Worley Montagu

Beauty Genius Mediocrity Wit

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Prudent people are very happy; 'tis an exceeding fine thing, that's certain, but I was born without it, and shall retain to my day of Death the Humour of saying what I think.

— Mary Worley Montagu

No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting.

— Mary Worley Montagu

People commonly educate their children as they build their houses, according to some plan they think beautiful, without considering whether it is suited to the purposes for which they are designed.

— Mary Worley Montagu

ChildrenHousesPeople

It was formerly a terrifying view to me that I should one day be an old woman. I now find that Nature has provided pleasure for every state.

— Mary Worley Montagu

I don't say 'Tis impossible for an impudent man not to rise in the world, but a moderate merit with a large share of impudence is more probable to be advanced than the greatest qualifications without it.

— Mary Worley Montagu