WIST Quotations

Thackeray, William Makepeace -- “On Love, Marriage, Men, and Women,” Sketches and Travels in London (1856)

Dave — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 18:18:48 +0000

A good laugh is sunshine in a house.

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) English novelist
“On Love, Marriage, Men, and Women,” Sketches and Travels in London (1856)
(Source)

This particular line is widely attributed to Thackeray, but rarely cited. Part of the problem is that it is almost always given as "A good laugh is sunshine in the house," rather than "a house."

It is also sometimes cited to his famous novel Vanity Fair (1848), though the quotation cannot be found there.

Thackeray, William Makepeace -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

The world is a looking glass and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face.

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) English novelist
(Attributed)

Thackeray, William Makepeace -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Never lose a chance of saying a kind word.

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) English novelist
(Attributed)

Thackeray, William Makepeace -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Life is the soul’s nursery — its training place for the destinies of eternity.

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) English novelist
(Attributed)

Thackeray, William Makepeace -- (Attributed)

Dave — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:15:16 +0000

I have been surprised at the observations made by some of my characters. It seems as if an occult Power was moving the pen. The personage does or says something, and I ask, how the dickens did he come to think of that?

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) English novelist
(Attributed)

In A. Storr, Solitude: A Return to the Self, ch. 12 (1988)

Thackeray, William Makepeace -- (Attributed)

Dave — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 11:57:02 +0000

Whatever you are, be a good one.

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) English novelist
(Attributed)

Attributed in Laurence Hutton, "A Boy I Knew," St Nicholas Magazine (Mar 1897), where it was originally given as "Whatever you are, try to be a good one." Often attributed to Abraham Lincoln (first recorded in 1946). For more information, see here.

Thackeray, William Makepeace -- Sketches and Travels in London, “On Tailoring — and Toilets in General” (1856)

Dave — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 16:36:03 +0000

Good humor may be said to be one of the very best articles of dress one can wear in society.

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) English novelist
Sketches and Travels in London, “On Tailoring — and Toilets in General” (1856)

Thackeray, William Makepeace -- Sketches and Travels in London, “On Tailoring — and Toilets in General” (1856)

Dave — Sat, 03 Sep 2016 01:37:08 +0000

Good humor may be said to be one of the very best articles of dress one can wear in society.

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) English novelist
Sketches and Travels in London, “On Tailoring — and Toilets in General” (1856)

Thackeray, William Makepeace -- The History of Henry Esmond, 1.6 (1852)

Dave — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:28:41 +0000

‘Tis not the dying for a faith that so hard, Master Harry — ’tis the living up to it that is difficult.

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) English novelist
The History of Henry Esmond, 1.6 (1852)