Anne Bronte Quotes

The world's flattery and hypocrisy is a sweet morsel: eat less of it, for it is full of fire. Its fire is hidden while its taste is manifest, but its smoke becomes visible in the end.

O vanity, how little is thy force acknowledged or thy operations discerned! How wantonly dost thou deceive mankind under different disguises! Sometimes thou dost wear the face of pity; sometimes of generosity; nay, thou hast the assurance to put on those glorious ornaments which belong only to heroic virtue.

Over-niceness may be under-niceness.

Many undoubtedly owe their good fortune to the circumstance that they possess a pleasing smile with which they win hearts. Yet these hearts would do better to beware and to learn from Hamlet's tables that one may smile, and smile, and be a villain.

Under a bad cloak there is often a good drinker

A Wolf eats sheep but now and then; Ten thousands are devour'd by men. An open foe may prove a curse, but a pretend friend is worse.

There are certain defects which, well-mounted, glitter like virtue itself.

All is not gold that glisters.

beware the Lure of a handsome Face, the all too ready Assumption that the lovely Fa&#231ade must needs have lovely Chambers within; for as 'tis with Great Houses, so, too, with Great Men.

Beware of pretty faces that you find, a pretty face can hide an evil mind.

The fox often offers the duck its pond.

When one sees one of the romantic creatures before him he imagines he is looking at some holy being, so wonderful that its one breath could dissolve him in a sea of a thousand charms and delights; but if one looks into the soul -- it's nothing but a common crocodile.

If you lived in London, where the whole system is one of false good-fellowship, and you may know a man for twenty years without finding out that he hates you like poison, you would soon have your eyes opened. There we do unkind things in a kind way: we say bitter things in a sweet voice: we always give our friends chloroform when we tear them to pieces.

All that glisters is not gold; Often have you heard that told: Many a man his life hath sold But my outside to behold: Gilded tombs do worms enfold.

What humbugs we are, who pretend to live for beauty, and never see the dawn!

Politeness is deception in pretty packaging.

The ravening wolves are amongst us, from our own membership, and they, more than any others, are clothed in sheep's clothing, because they wear the habiliments of the priesthood…We should be careful of them.

Thou speak'st like him's untutored to repeat: Who makes the fairest show means most deceit.

For the ones who are called saints by human opinion on earth may very well be devils, and their light may very well be darkness

The cat joined the Re-education Committee and was very active in it for some days. She was seen one dag sitting on a roof and talking to some sparrows who were just out of her reach. She was telling them that all animals were now comrades and that any sparrow who chose could come and perch on her paw; but the sparrows kept their distance.

What glitters may not be gold; and even wolves may smile; and fools will be led by promises to their deaths.

Every expression of desired friendship has potential bite. Every smile reveals the teeth.

It turns out that one can perpetrate all manner of heinous villainy under a cloak of courtesy and good cheer. . .a man will forfeit all sensible self-interest if he finds you affable enough to share your company over a flagon of ale.

He was never more sinister than when he was most polite.