Elizabeth Peabody Quotes & Sayings

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

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

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

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

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

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

When he had first come to Mr. Peabody he had not wanted to look back. He had felt like someone just awake after a nightmare, and afraid to think about it lest it catch him again, but now the evil had receded so far that he liked to set it as a backcloth to the procession of his shining days. — Elizabeth Goudge

I don't know why I should have been so pleased to see Lucas behaving like a gentleman for a change. I never liked the man ... But of course I know why. I would have defended Satan himself if he had been in disfavor with Emerson. — Elizabeth Peters

Your trousers are on fire. I would have told you, but you so dislike advice ... — 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

The roar of an angry crowd is one of the most terrifying sounds in the world. — Elizabeth Peters

I was beginning to fear that you had turned into one of those boring females who can only say 'Yes, my dear' ... You know very well, Peabody, that our little discussions are the spice of life
'The pepper in the soup of marriage'
Very aptly put, Peabody. If you become meek and acquiescent, I will put an advertisement in the Times telling Sethos to drop by and collect you. Promise me you will never stop scolding ... — 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

Most men are reasonably useful in a crisis. The difficulty lies in convincing them that the situation has reached a critical point — Elizabeth Peters

There was no warning, not even a knock. The door flew open, and he forgot his present aches and pains in anticipation of what lay in store. The figure that stood in the door was not that of an enemy. It was worse. It was his mother. — 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

Is is difficult to be angry with a gentleman who pays you compliments, even impertinent compliments. Especially impertinent compliments. — Elizabeth Peters

Men like to create unnecessary organizations and give them impressive or mysterious names; this usually ends in increased confusion, and should therefore be ignored. — 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

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

I do not scruple to employ mendacity and a fictitious appearance of female incompetence when the occasion demands it. — Elizabeth Peters

No woman really wants a man to carry her off; she only wants him to want to do it. — Elizabeth Peters