Elizabeth Peters Quotes & Sayings
Enjoy the top 100 famous quotes, sayings and quotations by Elizabeth Peters.
Famous Quotes By Elizabeth Peters
I disapprove of matrimony as a matter of principle ... Why should any independent, intelligent female choose to subject herself to the whims and tyrannies of a husband? I assure you, I have yet to meet a man as sensible as myself! (Amelia Peabody) — Elizabeth Peters
Why is a man with a knife after your blood? Who sent him? I would like to write the fellow a letter of thanks! — Elizabeth Peters
The men had scattered in all directions, which men are inclined to do when women leave them to their own devices for any length of time. I believe they are easily bored. — Elizabeth Peters
The current fashions are impractical for an active person. Skirts so tight one must toddle like an infant, bodices boned so firmly it is impossible to draw a deep breath ... . And bustles! Of all the idiotic contrivances foisted upon helpless womankind, the bustle is certainly the worst. — Elizabeth Peters
I would be the first to admit that my maternal instincts are not well developed
though in defense I must add that the raising of Ramses would have discouraged any woman. — Elizabeth Peters
Peculiar or not, it is my idea of pleasure. Why, why else do you lead this life you don't enjoy it? Don't talk of duty to me; you men always have some high-sounding excuse for indulging yourselves. You go gallivanting over the earth, climbing mountains, looking for the sources of the Nile; and expect women to sit dully at home embroidering. I embroider very badly. I think I would excavate rather well. — Elizabeth Peters
Emerson, do you mean it?' 'It is only your due, my dear Peabody. Spite and selfishness alone kept me from beginning on them long ago. You deserve pyramids, and pyramids you will have! — Elizabeth Peters
Ramses. I had long since resigned myself to the impossibility of teaching Emerson the proper subjects of conversation before the servants. Wilkins is not resigned; but there is nothing he can do about it. Not only does Emerson rant on and on about personal matters at the dinner table, but he often consults Wilkins and John. Wilkins has a single reply to all questions: "I really could not say, sir." John, who had never been in service before he came to us, had adapted very comfortably to Emerson's habits. — Elizabeth Peters
The sun is born again from the womb of night," he said. "See how the light spreads, remaking the world. — Elizabeth Peters
His blue-and-white striped robe ballooning out in the wind, he rode directly to me and fell off the donkey. Gasping theatrically, he handed me a note and then collapsed face down in the sand. Since the donkey had been doing all the work, I ignored this demonstration. While John bent over the fallen man with expressions of concern I opened the note. — Elizabeth Peters
In the silence I heard Bastet, who had retreated under the bed, carrying on a mumbling, profane monologue. (If you ask how I knew it was profane, I presume you have never owned a cat.) — Elizabeth Peters
I felt obligated by friendship as well as duty to make certain they were comfortably housed. Since men seem to measure comfort by the degree of dirt and confusion that prevails, I deduced that they were very comfortable. — Elizabeth Peters
That was Evelyn's weakness. She was too kind, and too truthful. Both, I have found, are inconvenient character traits. — Elizabeth Peters
If all else fails, we will simply have to drug our attendants, overpower the guards, raise the oppressed peasants to arms, and take over the government. — Elizabeth Peters
The room was so neat and tidy it made me feel quite depressed ... I do not allow myself to repine about what cannot be helped; but I remembered earlier Decembers, under the cloudless blue skies and brilliant sun of Egypt.
As I stood morosely contemplating the destruction of our cheerful domestic clutter, and recalling better days, I heard the sound of wheels on the gravel of the drive. The first guest had arrived. Gathering the robes of my martyrdom about me, I made ready to receive her. — Elizabeth Peters
Men are frightful nuisances at times; how much simpler life would be if we women did not have to make allowances for their little peculiarities. — Elizabeth Peters
I would never have supposed that inexperienced girl was capable of such cold-blooded, calculating manipulation! — Elizabeth Peters
Moon dipped low over the dark outlines of the mountains, and the sable sky blazed with stars. There — Elizabeth Peters
Bucolic peace is not my ambience, and the giving of tea parties is by no means my favorite amusement. In fact, I would prefer to be pursued across the desert by a band of savage Dervishes brandishing spears and howling for my blood. I would rather be chased up a tree by a mad dog, or face a mummy risen from its grave. I would rather be threatened by knives, pistols, poisonous snakes, and the curse of a long-dead king. Lest I be accused of exaggeration, ... Emerson once remarked that if I should encounter a band of Dervishes, five minutes of my nagging would unquestionably inspire even the mildest of them to massacre me ... — Elizabeth Peters
He never comes to see us unless he wants something. Find out what it is, tell him "no," and let us be off. — Elizabeth Peters
Since I am not as stupid as my children believe I am, I had immediately realized this might be a ruse, but I was not at all averse to a confrontation. In fact, I had been hoping for some such thing. — Elizabeth Peters
If she hasn't learned to appreciate my sterling character and spectacular good looks by this time, it's not likely she will. — Elizabeth Peters
God help the poor mummy who encounters you, Peabody," he said bitterly. "We ought to supply it with a pistol, to even the odds. — Elizabeth Peters
I don't think she realized how much she cared for him, or he for her, until the end. Hasn't someone said a woman may be known by the men who love her enough to die for her? (If they haven't, I claim the credit myself.) — Elizabeth Peters
His lips parted, but long years of experience with Ramses, and to some extent, Emerson, had taught me how to turn a conversation into a monologue. — Elizabeth Peters
Are we all agreed? Excellent. Then Peabody had better retire to her bed; she is clearly in need of recuperative sleep, she has not made a sarcastic remark for fully ten minutes. — Elizabeth Peters
The roar of an angry crowd is one of the most terrifying sounds in the world. — Elizabeth Peters
The combination of physical strength and moral sincerity combined with tenderness of heart is exactly what is wanted in a husband.
Ameila Peabody — Elizabeth Peters
I have learned that particularly clever ideas do not always stand up under close scrutiny. — Elizabeth Peters
E continues to cling to the forlorn hope that I will turn into one of those swooning females ... and fling myself squeeling at him whenever anything happens. Like all men, he clings to his illusions. — Elizabeth Peters
The way to get on with a cat is to treat it as an equal - or even better, as the superior it knows itself to be. — Elizabeth Peters
The secret of happiness is to enjoy the moment, without allowing unhappy memories or fear of the future to shadow the shining present. — Elizabeth Peters
My nature does not lend itself to the meekness required of a wife in our society. I could not endure a man who would let himself be ruled by me, and I would not endure a man who tried to rule me. — Elizabeth Peters
Can't you ever stop joking?"
"No, why should I? Laughter is one of the two things that make life worthwhile. Aren't you going to ask what the other one is? — Elizabeth Peters
She was so pitiful as she lay there on the cold, damp ground that only a heart of stone could have been unmoved. There are many hearts of that composition, however. — Elizabeth Peters
What a nice neat deep trench,' I said. 'Er - should Nefret be down in it?'
'She thought she saw a skull,' Ramses said. 'You know how she is about bones. — Elizabeth Peters
I felt about him as I might feel about a friendly, dimwitted dog that had decided to move in with us. He could not be cast out into the street, but he was shedding all over the furniture. — Elizabeth Peters
Stop," he ordered, in a low but compelling voice. "Do not take another step, or I fire! Dash it," he added vexedly, "does the monstrosity understand English? How absurd this is!"
"It understands the gesture, at least," I called, thrusting head and shoulders through the window. "Lucas, for pity's sake, seize it! Don't stand there deriding its linguistic inadequacies! — Elizabeth Peters
Reputable scholars might have denied its authenticity, but there are always other scholars who disagree
and people will believe what they want to believe, never mind the evidence. If there is anything life has taught me, it is that there is no idea so absurd that someone will not accept it as truth, and no action so bizarre that it will not be justified in the eyes of a true believer. — Elizabeth Peters
If you take a man by surprise, and behave with sufficient arrogance, he will generally do what you ask.
-Emerson — Elizabeth Peters
The trouble with unknown enemies is that they are so difficult to identify. — Elizabeth Peters
Eavesdropping, Mother?' Ramses inquired.
'It is a shameful habit, but cursed useful,' I said, quoting something he had once said, and was rewarded by one of his rare and rather engaging smiles. — Elizabeth Peters
love has a very dulling effect on the brain — Elizabeth Peters
When, oh when will justice and reason prevail, and Woman descend from the pedestal on which Man has placed her (in order to prevent her from doing anything except standing perfectly still) and take her rightful place beside him? — Elizabeth Peters
We all know how ruthlessly these American millionaires crush their rivals as they climb to power. — Elizabeth Peters
You are softening toward the young rascal because he is ill, and because he says he likes cats."
"It is an engaging quality, Emerson."
"That depends," said Emerson darkly, "on how he likes them. — Elizabeth Peters
I had refused Emerson's well-meant offers of assistance, knowing his efforts would be confined to moving the furniture to the wrong places and demanding how much longer the process would take. — Elizabeth Peters
Most men are reasonably useful in a crisis. The difficulty lies in convincing them that the situation has reached a critical point — Elizabeth Peters
Nefret had always had an uncanny ability to read his thoughts. 'Did she cry?' she asked sweetly. 'And then you kissed her? You shouldn't have done that. I'm sure you meant well, but kissing someone out of pity is always a mistake. — Elizabeth Peters
I have always been of the opinion that your successes are due not so much to your medical skill as your dogged determination. No one would have the audacity to die when you are doctoring them. — Elizabeth Peters
At the time there were moments of extreme discomfort; but the adventure, the danger, the exhilaration of doubt and peril are in retrospect something I rather regret having lost. — Elizabeth Peters
As Ramses did the same for his mother, he saw that her eyes were fixed on him. She had been unusually silent. She had not needed his father's tactless comment to understand the full implications of Farouk's death. As he met her unblinking gaze he was reminded of one of Nefret's more vivid descriptions. 'When she's angry, her eyes look like polished steel balls.' That's done it, he thought. She's made up her mind to get David and me out of this if she has to take on every German and Turkish agent in the Middle East. — Elizabeth Peters
The man had no more romance in his soul than a codfish — Elizabeth Peters
Many persons lead lives of crushing boredom. — Elizabeth Peters
Men believe women are hopeless gossips, but women know men are. The poor creatures are worse than women in some ways, because they cannot admit to themselves that they are gossiping, or doubt the discretion of the individuals in whom they confide. 'Strictly in confidence, old boy, just between you and me ... '. — Elizabeth Peters
You don't sound like a librarian," she said.
"I'm on vacation," Jacqueline laughed. "Well, I supposed there is an image, isn't there? But stereotypes are awfully misleading. there are typical librarians, but not all librarians are typical. Any more than any other profession. — Elizabeth Peters
I have been accused of being somewhat abrupt in my actions and decisions, but I never act without thought; it is simply that I think more quickly and more intelligently than most people. — Elizabeth Peters
There are too many people in the world as it is, but the supply of ancient manuscripts is severely limited. — Elizabeth Peters
The only people who are not in awe of Emerson's powerful voice and well-nigh superhuman strength are the members of his own family. He is aware of this, and often complains about it; so from time to time I like to put on a little show of being intimidated. 'Proceed, my dear,' I said apologetically. — Elizabeth Peters
There is nothing more abominable than being in a state of bodily exhaustion and mental irritation; I was too lethargic to get up and seek some means of occupying my mind, but I was too uneasy to fall asleep. — Elizabeth Peters
Though Emerson is a firm believer in the equality of the female sex, he has some secret reservations, and one of them involves the car. (There is something about these machines that makes men want to pound their chests and roar like gorillas. I speak figuratively, of course.) — Elizabeth Peters
That must be why some people like dogs; they can be made to feel guilty about anything, including the sins of their owners. Cats refuse to take the blame for anything - including their own sins. — Elizabeth Peters
Marriage, in my view, should be a balanced stalemate between equal adversaries. — Elizabeth Peters
His masculinity was only too apparent — Elizabeth Peters
I fink it is a femuw. A femuw of a winowcowus ... A a-stinct winocowus. — Elizabeth Peters
He hesitated for a moment. Then he said softly, 'I love you, Mother.' He took my hand and kissed it, and folded my fingers round the stem of the rose. He had stripped it of its thorns.
I was too moved to speak. But maternal affection was not the only emotion that prevented utterance; as I watched him walk away, his head high and his step firm, anger boiled within me. I knew I had to conquer it before I saw Nefret again, or I would take her by the shoulders and shake her, and demand that she love my son! — Elizabeth Peters
I will tell you a little secret about archaeologists, dear Reader. They all pretend t be very high-minded. They claim that their sole aim in excavation is to uncover the mysteries of the past and add to the store of human knowledge. They lie. What they really want is a spectacular discovery, so they can get their names in the newspapers and inspire envy and hatred in the hearts of their rivals. — Elizabeth Peters
Love has a most unfortunate effect on the brain, — Elizabeth Peters
Nefret said with a gusty sigh, 'Well, that's done it. We may as well join in, Ramses, family arguments are the favorite form of amusement here and this looks like being a loud one. — Elizabeth Peters
(Romanticism is not a quality I despise, but it is inconvenient in a butler.) — Elizabeth Peters
For a time Emerson politely endeavored to conceal his boredom - like most men, he is profoundly disinterested in all children except his own - ... — Elizabeth Peters
As the Egyptians say, Ramses can hear a whisper across the Nile. — Elizabeth Peters
Humor is an excellent method of keeping a tight rein on unproductive displays of emotion. — Elizabeth Peters
He smiled affably at the burglar, a burly fellow whom he continued to hold with one hand, as easily as if he had been a child. The entire household had been aroused, and a good number of them had joined in, shouting questions and brandishing various deadly instruments. The burglar glared wildly at Emerson, bare to the waist and bulging with muscle - at Gargery and his cudgel - at Selim, fingering a knife even longer than Nefret's - at assorted footmen armed with pokers, spits, and cleavers - and at the giant form of Daoud advancing purposefully toward him. 'It's a bleedin' army!' he gurgled. 'The lyin' barstard said you was some kind of professor! — Elizabeth Peters
Everything has happened before - not once, but over and over again. We may not be able to solve our problems through what are pompously called "the lessons of history," but at least we should be able to recognize the issues and perhaps avoid some of the solutions that have failed in the past. And we can take heart in our own dilemma by realizing that other people in other times have survived worse. — Elizabeth Peters
A lady cannot be blamed if a master criminal takes a fancy to her. — Elizabeth Peters
I sometimes wonder what it would be like to be the respected patriarch of an ordinary English family."
"Very boring, Emerson. — Elizabeth Peters
Ramses had always been fond of Helen, in his peculiar fashion, but if he had looked at me as he was looking at her, I would have sent for a constable. — Elizabeth Peters
I couldn't help overhearing," he went on. "Grrr," said Emerson. (I assure you, there is really no other way of reproducing this sound.) "Honestly. — Elizabeth Peters
Is is difficult to be angry with a gentleman who pays you compliments, even impertinent compliments. Especially impertinent compliments. — Elizabeth Peters
Sekhmet crawled onto Ramses's lap and began to purr. 'The creature oozes like a furry slug,' said Ramses, eyeing it without favor. — Elizabeth Peters
As I left I heard Ramses say, 'May I remark, Papa, dat alt'ough your consideration for my sensitivities was quite unnecessary, I am not without a proper appreciation of de sentiment dat prompted it. — Elizabeth Peters
Emerson is a remarkable person, considering that he is a man. Which is not saying a great deal. — Elizabeth Peters
It's not unsporting to thrash a cowardly cad,' said Simmons. 'Everyone knows you don't fight like a gentleman.'
'That might be called an oxymoron,' Ramses said. 'Oh
sorry. Bad form to use long words. Look it up when you get home.'
The poor devil didn't know how to fight, like a gentleman or otherwise. — Elizabeth Peters
Americans have many admirable characteristics, but literary taste is rare among them. — Elizabeth Peters
Either the War Office had recruited Ramses - in which case I would have General Spencer's head on a platter - or Ramses had come across something that, in his opinion, merited investigation ... I am never guilty of idle speculation, so I kept an open mind on that. Except that once I caught up with him, I would have Ramses' head on another platter. — Elizabeth Peters
Nothing can be more infuriating than being forgiven over and over again. — Elizabeth Peters
When one is striding bravely into the future one cannot watch one's footing. — Elizabeth Peters
Emerson has what I believe is called a selective memory. He can recall minute details of particular excavations but is likely to forget where he left his hat. — Elizabeth Peters
As for my clothes, they suit the life I lead. The current fashions are impractical for an active person. Skirts so tight one must toddle like an infant, bodices boned so firmly it is impossible to draw a deep breath ... And bustles! Of all the idiotic contrivances foisted upon helpless womankind, the bustle is certainly the worst. I wear them, since it is impossible to have a gown made without them, but at least I can insist on sensible dark fabrics and a minimum of ornament. What a fool I should look in puffs and frills and crimson satin - or a gown trimmed with dead birds, like one I saw! — Elizabeth Peters
There are occasions upon which a candid expression of opinion may be not only rude, but counterproductive. L — Elizabeth Peters
The approval of a cat cannot but flatter the recipient. — Elizabeth Peters
Bless the ladies and their charming inconsistency! They demand to be treated like men, but they react like women. — Elizabeth Peters
Schmidt is a canny little kobold. — Elizabeth Peters
You certainly are a repository of useless information. How do you know all that?' David asked, with more amusement than admiration.
'I have a mind like a magpie's, easily distracted by interesting odds and ends,' Ramses admitted. — Elizabeth Peters