Agnes Repplier Quotes, born April 1, 1855, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was an American essayist celebrated for her wit, scholarship, and mastery of the discursive essay. Of French and German descent, she was educated at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and the Agnes Irwin School, overcoming early illiteracy and school expulsions to become a leading literary voice. Her essays, including her first in The Atlantic Monthly (1886), blend literary criticism with sharp observations on contemporary life. These 15 quotes—sourced from her essays, books, and public statements—reflect her keen insights on humor, happiness, human nature, and the pursuit of knowledge, capturing her erudite and lively spirit.
15 Agnes Repplier Quotes
- “It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere.” (Points of Friction, 1920)
- “Humor brings insight and tolerance. Irony brings a deeper and less friendly understanding.” (Essays in Idleness, 1893)
- “We cannot really love anybody with whom we never laugh.” (Americans and Others, 1912)
- “The impulse to travel is one of the hopeful symptoms of life.” (Compromises, 1904)
- “A kitten is chiefly remarkable for rushing about like mad at nothing whatever, and generally stopping before it gets there.” (In Our Convent Days, 1905)
- “It is in his pleasure that a man really lives; it is from his leisure that he constructs the true fabric of self.” (Points of Friction, 1920)
- “People who cannot recognize a palpable absurdity are very much in the way of civilization.” (Points of View, 1891)
- “There are few joys to equal a good book. There are fewer sorrows to equal a bad one.” (Essays in Miniature, 1895)
- “Humor distorts nothing, and only false gods are laughed off their earthly pedestals.” (In Pursuit of Laughter, 1936)
- “It is impossible for a lover of cats to banish these alert, gentle, and discriminating friends.” (The Fireside Sphinx, 1901)
- “No trumpets sound when the important decisions of our life are made. Destiny is made known silently.” (Dance to the Piper, 1952)
- “A good laugh is the best medicine for a weary soul.” (Counter-Currents, 1916)
- “The tourist may complain of other tourists, but he would be lost without them.” (Times and Tendencies, 1931)
- “Conversation between Adam and Eve must have been difficult at times because they had nobody to talk about.” (In the Dozy Hours, 1894)
- “Books are the mirrors of the soul.” (Essays in Idleness, 1893)
Agnes Repplier’s quotes sparkle with wit and wisdom, urging readers to find joy in laughter, literature, and life’s quiet moments. Which one inspires you to see the world anew? Drop it in the comments and keep her literary legacy thriving!
Emma Thompson
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