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31 Famous Quotes By Fanny Fern That Have A Mischievous Glint

Famous As: Novelist
Born On: July 9, 1811
Died On: October 10, 1872
Born In: Portland, Maine, United States
Died At Age: 61
Sara Willis, popularly known as Fanny Fern, was an American humorist, newspaper columnist, children book author and novelist. She went on to become one of the most renowned female authors during that period. She wrote for the publication ‘New York Ledger’ and due to her immense popularity, she also became the highest paid columnist in America. In 1855, Fern was paid a then mind boggling salary of $100 per week and her style particularly appealed the thriving ladies in America at that time. Other than being a noted columnist, Fern was also a highly successful author and one of her most important books is ‘Ruth Hall’, published in 1854, that is regarded as a cornerstone of feminist literature. Fern also became quite famous as a writer of children’s books and some of the noted ones include ‘The New Story Book for Children’, ‘Little Ferns for Fanny’s Little Friends’ and ‘The Play-Day Book’. Fern wrote about a wide range of subjects throughout her career. Feminist themes were particularly close to her heart and her writings expressed her views and thoughts on the same. Read through the quotes and thoughts by Fanny Fern which have been excerpted from her columns, books, essays and public utterances.
She said it was beautiful to be loved, and that it made everything on earth look brighter.

She said it was beautiful to be loved, and that it made everything on earth look brighter.

Fanny Fern
I am convinced that there are times in everybody's experience when there is so much to be done, that the only way to do it is to sit down and do nothing.

I am convinced that there are times in everybody's experience when there is so much to be done, that the only way to do it is to sit down and do nothing.

Fanny Fern
What a pity when editors review a woman's book, that they so often fall into the error of reviewing the woman instead.

What a pity when editors review a woman's book, that they so often fall into the error of reviewing the woman instead.

Fanny Fern

Can anybody tell me why reporters, in making mention of lady speakers, always consider it to be necessary to report, fully and firstly, the dresses worn by them? When John Jones or Senator Rouser frees his mind in public, we are left in painful ignorance of the color and fit of his pants, coat, necktie and vest - and worse still, the shape of his boots. This seems to me a great omission.

Fanny Fern
Our domestic Napoleons, too many of them, give flattery, bonnets and bracelets to women, and everything else but - justice ...

Our domestic Napoleons, too many of them, give flattery, bonnets and bracelets to women, and everything else but - justice ...

Fanny Fern
The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

Fanny Fern
I am getting sick of people. I am falling in love with things. They hold their tongues ...

I am getting sick of people. I am falling in love with things. They hold their tongues ...

Fanny Fern
Uncles and aunts, and cousins, are all very well, and fathers and mothers are not to be despised; but a grandmother, at holiday time, is worth them all.

Uncles and aunts, and cousins, are all very well, and fathers and mothers are not to be despised; but a grandmother, at holiday time, is worth them all.

Fanny Fern

I want a human sermon. I don't care what Melchisedek, or Zerubbabel, or Kerenhappuk did, ages ago; I want to know what I am to do, and I want somebody besides a theological bookworm to tell me; somebody who is sometimes tempted and tried, and is not too dignified to own it; somebody like me, who is always sinning and repenting; somebody who is glad and sorry, and cries and laughs, and eats and drinks, and wants to fight when they are trodden on, and don't!

Fanny Fern
The term 'lady' has been so misused, that I like better the old-fashioned term, woman.

The term 'lady' has been so misused, that I like better the old-fashioned term, woman.

Fanny Fern
Hoary-headed old Winter, I have had enough of you!

Hoary-headed old Winter, I have had enough of you!

Fanny Fern
To the Pilgrim Mothers, who not only had their full share of the hardships and privations of pioneer life but also had the Pilgrim Fathers to endure.

To the Pilgrim Mothers, who not only had their full share of the hardships and privations of pioneer life but also had the Pilgrim Fathers to endure.

Fanny Fern
Too much indulgence has ruined thousands of children; too much love not one.

Too much indulgence has ruined thousands of children; too much love not one.

Fanny Fern

Few husbands (and the longer I observe, the more I am convinced of the truth of what I am about to say, and I make no exception in favor of education or station) have the magnanimity to use justly, generously, the power which the law puts in their hands.

Fanny Fern
To her, the name of father was another name for love.

To her, the name of father was another name for love.

Fanny Fern
Show me an 'easy person,' and I will show you a selfish one. Good-natured he may be; why not? since the disastrous consequences of his 'easiness' are generally shouldered by other people.

Show me an 'easy person,' and I will show you a selfish one. Good-natured he may be; why not? since the disastrous consequences of his 'easiness' are generally shouldered by other people.

Fanny Fern
Everything in the country, animate and inanimate, seems to whisper, be serene, be kind, be happy. We grow tolerant there unconsciously.

Everything in the country, animate and inanimate, seems to whisper, be serene, be kind, be happy. We grow tolerant there unconsciously.

Fanny Fern
Never ask a favor until you are drawing your last breath; and never forget one.

Never ask a favor until you are drawing your last breath; and never forget one.

Fanny Fern
Dear reader, true religion is not gloomy.

Dear reader, true religion is not gloomy.

Fanny Fern
There are no little things. Little things are the hinges of the universe.

There are no little things. Little things are the hinges of the universe.

Fanny Fern
How strong sometimes is weakness!

How strong sometimes is weakness!

Fanny Fern
Love is a farce; matrimony is a humbug; husbands are domestic Napoleons, Neroes, Alexanders,--sighing for other hearts to conquer, after they are sure of yours.

Love is a farce; matrimony is a humbug; husbands are domestic Napoleons, Neroes, Alexanders,--sighing for other hearts to conquer, after they are sure of yours.

Fanny Fern
I hate the word proper. If you tell me a thing is not proper, I immediately feel the most rabid desire to go 'neck and heels' into it.

I hate the word proper. If you tell me a thing is not proper, I immediately feel the most rabid desire to go 'neck and heels' into it.

Fanny Fern
I wish one half the world were not fools, and the other half idiots.

I wish one half the world were not fools, and the other half idiots.

Fanny Fern
Well, it is a humiliating reflection, that the straightest road to a man's heart is through his palate.

Well, it is a humiliating reflection, that the straightest road to a man's heart is through his palate.

Fanny Fern
I've as good a right to preserve the healthy body God gave me, as if I were not a woman.

I've as good a right to preserve the healthy body God gave me, as if I were not a woman.

Fanny Fern
O, girls! set your affections on cats, poodles, parrots or lap-dogs; but let matrimony alone. It's the hardest way on earth to getting a living.

O, girls! set your affections on cats, poodles, parrots or lap-dogs; but let matrimony alone. It's the hardest way on earth to getting a living.

Fanny Fern
When a literary person's exhaustive work is over, the last thing he wishes to do is to talk books.

When a literary person's exhaustive work is over, the last thing he wishes to do is to talk books.

Fanny Fern
Nowhere more than in New York does the contest between squalor and splendor so sharply present itself.

Nowhere more than in New York does the contest between squalor and splendor so sharply present itself.

Fanny Fern
Never compel yourself to say words to which the heart yields no response.

Never compel yourself to say words to which the heart yields no response.

Fanny Fern