Quotes by Victorian authors: "There is in this world no function more important than that of being charming--to shed joy around, to cast light upon dark dys, to be the golden thread of our destiny and the very spirit of grace and harmony. Is not this to render a service?" ````````````````````
"Her presence lights the home; her approach is like a cheerful warmth; she passes by, and we are content; she stays awhile and we are happy. Is it not a thing of divine, to have a smile which, none know how, has the power to lighten the weight of that enormous chain that all the living in common drag behind them?"
10 comments:
Good Morning Ladies,
I too would be interested to hear about life in UAE. It sounds quite interesting!
A lady I know spent 1 and 1/2 years in Saudia Arabia many years ago due to her husband's job. I enjoy hearing her stories. And, it makes me supremely thankful that I live in America.
Take Care,
Trixie
I'm popping in from Turkey. I've a link to your blog on my own. Thanks for honoring and encouraging the stay-at-home mom.
Blessings,
I have an award for you on my blog. :D Thank you for all the hard work you do on this page.
I think I recognize the first quote from "Fascinating Womanhood" (if I'm not wrong). That book has a lot of really good excerpts about femininity and homemaking from the literature of the Victorian period. The pamphlet series that the book was based on has even more excerpts from literature of that time, as well.
Lydia,
Can you divulge the author of the quote? I'd love to post it on my quotes blog!
Thanks,
Rebecca
Rebecca, one is by Victor Hugo and the other is by William Makepiece Thackery, both written in the Victorian Era. I don't know which novels they came from.
The first quote by Victor Hugo can be found on the following link.
It looks like the second quote is on that page as well, also by Victor Hugo, but the first part is different from your quote:
To behold her is to live; she is the Aurora with a human face. She has no need to do more than simply to be, she makes an Eden of the house; Paradise breathes from her: and she communicates this delight to all, without taking any greater trouble than that of existing beside them. Is it not a thing divine to have a smile which, none know how, has the power to lighten the weight of that enormous chain which all the living, in common, drag behind them?—Toilers of the Sea.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16418/16418-h/16418-h.htm
Thanks so much for the research!
Even though written in Victorian times (another thing to appreciate about the Victorian era, which PBS reenactments and documentaries usually fail to include), it is a wonderful thing for women to aspire to in these times!
I do think Thackery had some quotes from Vanity Fair that were along similar lines, regarding Becky Sharpe.
I'm very thankful to live in America, too, but appreciate what other cultures have to offer. It's too bad that the friend of the lady above didn't enjoy her overseas experiences, but a lot of what we take away from any experience depends on what we bring to it ourselves.
Americans do tend to be rather ethnocentric, judging other cultures by their own standards rather than trying to understand them from a more unbiased standpoint. The more one travels and studies factual information about other countries, the better he or she is able to appreciate them. Every country has its problems, and America is no exception. Miss Lydia has discussed at length all of the negative things in American society.
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