Quote#Friendship
What a spirit of contradiction possesses one's kind friends! I, who…
Quote byHelen Blackwood, Baroness Dufferin and Claneboye · 1807–1867
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: On the rumors that she was the real author of her son's first book, in a letter to Abraham Howard (9 Jul 1857).
English (original)
What a spirit of contradiction possesses one's kind friends! I, who have never done anything, am supposed to be capable of doing much; it is a great lesson, which I shall lay to heart. I will never give the measure of my shallowness; I will go on laboring in my vocation; I will "do nothing" more energetically than ever.
— Helen Blackwood, Baroness Dufferin and Claneboye
More from Helen Blackwood, Baroness Dufferin and Claneboye
Surely it is hardly worthwhile to take up a pursuit merely to please other people.
I am what Doctor Johnson would call a "compendious epitome" of all the virtues—in one volume very neatly bound, and very rare—there being but one copy extant.
In short, the world owns that we are the best-looking family in England and we are pretty well disposed to agree.
I am persuaded one ought not to set one's heart earnestly on any one pursuit in this world, if one wishes to preserve any of the energy of youth beyond its first years.
You see Georgy’s the beauty and Carry’s the wit, and I ought to be the good one, but then I am such a liar.
Do, Car, open your eyes (and shut your mouth) and see that this is not our old world when we were all young, handsome women, much observed and talked of, and that you are no longer an ideal of Vanity Fair.