Mary Collyer Quotes & Sayings

How tedious is time, when his wings are loaded with expectation! — Mary Collyer

Swearing is, as I have said, learning to the ignorant, eloquence to the blockhead, vivacity to the stupid, and wit to the coxcomb. — Mary Collyer

The most savage and voracious animal never kills to increase his wealth, or open a way to grandeur. It slays to satisfy his hunger, or in a natural defense of his own life, or of those whom he is prompted by instinct to preserve. — Mary Collyer

Prayer must be, in its own nature, absurd and impertinent. — Mary Collyer

I am to consider the many advantages arising from a frequent use of oaths, curses, and imprecations. In the first place, this genteel accomplishment is a wonderful help to discourse; as it supplies the want of good sense, learning, and eloquence. The illiterate and stupid, by the help of oaths, become orators; and he, whose wretched intellects would not permit him to utter a coherent sentence, by this easy practice, excites the laughter, and fixes the attention, of a brilliant and joyous circle. — Mary Collyer

Those, who from an immoderate and false self-love, study to keep their humanity under, always take care, for their own sakes, to represent poverty to themselves, as something ridiculous, mean, and contemptible. — Mary Collyer

Avarice, with all its black attendants, is confessedly a crime of old age, and seldom arrives at maturity till accompanied with gray hairs. — Mary Collyer

Virtue is the music of the soul, the harmony of the passions. — Mary Collyer

I am strangely addicted to the writing of long letters, which, I am afraid, tire you; and for the future, I believe, I must be less communicative, in order to be less troublesome. — Mary Collyer

Oaths and curses are a proof of a most heroic courage, at least in appearance, which answers the same end. — Mary Collyer