Georgette Quotes & Sayings

Success is the process of not accepting failure. — Georgette Mosbacher

But if Frederica was aware of my sentiments, and begged Cousin Alverstoke to intervene - !" She shuddered, and clasped her hands tensely together. "You see, he could, Harry! He could arrange for Endymion to be sent abroad, for instance, and then I think I should die. Oh, my dear brother, there's no one to help us but you, and I count on your support! — Georgette Heyer

Surprise is the essence of attack! — Georgette Heyer

In my experience, the human mind, when under the influence of fear, rushes round in frantic circles. — Georgette Heyer

That sort of thing always leads to trouble! It is all kindness, and I am sure I am quite as sorry for Miss Broughty as anyone, but one cannot make a friend of everybody in distressing circumstances! — Georgette Heyer

is my very ardent desire to be permitted to pay my addresses to you — Georgette Heyer

Randall laid his hand on Stella's, but only to remove it from his sleeve. "My precious, you really must have some regard for my clothes," he said with gentle reproach. "Much as I love you, I cannot permit you to maul this particular coat. — Georgette Heyer

I am sure I do not know why a man should not be a gamester, if his talents make it an eligible profession for him! — Georgette Heyer

A man who would contract the mumps,' declared Cecilia, 'would do anything!' Lady Ombersley saw nothing unreasonable in this pronouncement, nor was she surprised that his lordship's unromantic behaviour had given Cecilia a distaste for him. She — Georgette Heyer

Have you limitations, my lord?" asked Sir Anthony.
My lord looked at him seriously. "I do not know," he said, with a revealing simplicity. "I have never yet discovered them. — Georgette Heyer

Finding that she was determined to get to the bottom of what seemed to him a very trivial affair, extricated himself without hesitation or compunction by advising her to apply to Vincent for information, since he was the instigator of the quarrel. Before he could make good his retreat, however, he was incensed and appalled by a command to go immediately to Vincent's room, and to inform him that his mama desired to have speech with him before he went down to breakfast. Since it was the time-honoured practice of the brothers to sacrifice each other in such situations as now confronted Claud, it was not fear of Vincent's wrath at finding himself betrayed which prompted Claud to despatch Polyphant on the errand, but the knowledge that not even a messenger bearing gifts of great price would meet with anything but the rudest of receptions from Vincent at this hour of the morning. — Georgette Heyer

He took her face between his hands, turning it up, and looking down at her for a moment before he kissed her. "I do love you, Jenny," he said gently. "Very much indeed
you are part of my life. Julia was never that-only a boy's impractical dream. — Georgette Heyer

You're never too young or too old to make your own kind of mark in your own kind of time. You're never the wrong age to release the power within you to create the life you deserve. — Georgette Mosbacher

Do you know, I think that of all your idiosyncrasies that choke you give, when you are determined not to laugh, is the one that most enchants me. — Georgette Heyer

Entertaining females with accounts of jug-bitten maunderings is one of my favourite pastimes.' He — Georgette Heyer

Them Frenchies!'
'Unchristian, that's what I call 'em,' responded Mr. Stubbs severely. 'I fair compassionate that wench. — Georgette Heyer

The thought flashed into her mind that she beheld the embodiment of her ideal. It was as instantly banished; — Georgette Heyer

People who start a sentence with personally (and they're always women) ought to be thrown to the lions. It's a repulsive habit. — Georgette Heyer

The society of my relatives can only be enjoyed with frequent intervals. — Georgette Heyer

Yet, after all, Jenny thought she had been granted more than she hoped for when she married him. He did love her: differently, but perhaps more enduringly; and he had grown to depend on her. She thought that they would have many years of quiet content: never reaching the heights, but living together in comfort and deepening friendship. — Georgette Heyer

You need have no fear. But were I to meet you, sir, you would lie dead at my feet within the space of five minutes. Possibly less. I do not know." He appeared to give the matter his consideration. — Georgette Heyer

There is a corpse somewhere on the road to town. Mr Fox does not wish it there. Remove it!' The — Georgette Heyer

It has always seemed to me that if one falls in love with any gentleman one becomes instantly blind to his faults.But I am not blind to your faults, and I do not think that everything you do or say is right! Only - Is it being - not very comfortable - and cross - and not quite happy, when you aren't there?" "That, my darling," said his lordship,taking her ruthlessly into his arms,"is exactly what it s!" "Oh - !" Frederica gasped, as she emerged from an embrace which threatened to suffocate her. "Now I know! I am in love! — Georgette Heyer

I find it a marvellous circumstance, cousin, that no one has yet strangled you! — Georgette Heyer

Lord Worth: 'I think you may be quite useful to me. The heiress has a brother.'
Captain Audley: 'I am not the least interested in her brother,' objected the Captain. — Georgette Heyer

Well aware that to bring the voice of sober reason to bear upon the exaggerations of agitated females was both fruitless and perilous, Freddy wisely let this pass ... — Georgette Heyer

He did not defy convention: when it did not interfere with whatever line of conduct he meant to pursue he conformed to it; and when it did he ignored it, affably conceding to his critics their right to censure him, if they felt so inclined, and caring neither for their praise nor their blame. — Georgette Heyer

I was under the impression that I warned you that in London country ways will not do, Frederica!"
"You did!" she retorted. "And although I can't say that I paid much heed to your advice it so happens that I am accompanied today by my aunt!"
"Who adds invisibility to her other accomplishments! — Georgette Heyer

She forced herself to smile, and to say magniloquently: — Georgette Heyer

Passion, that thing of beauty, that flowering without roots, has to be born, live and die without reason. — Georgette Leblanc

[ ... ]if you talk any more flummery to me, Frederica, I shall give you one of my - er - icy set-downs!(Alverstoke) — Georgette Heyer

Since he was himself of a forthright disposition he was inclined to like Sophy's frank, open manners, and obstinately refused to agree that she put herself forward unbecomingly. He did not think that she put herself forward at all, which made it difficult to see just how it was that she contrived to introduce quite a new atmosphere into the house. — Georgette Heyer

Ah, but I'm not a gentleman," said the Marquis. "I have it on the best of authority that I am only a
nobleman."
"Good gracious, Vidal, who in the world dared to say such a thing?" cried his cousin, instantly
diverted.
"Mary," replied his lordship, pouring himself out a glass of wine. — Georgette Heyer

Oh, yes, she's unusual!' he said bitterly. 'She blurts our whatever may come into her head;she tumbles from one outrageous escapade into another;she's happier gromming horses and hobnobbing with stable-hands than going to parties; she's impertinent; you daren't catch her eye for fear she should start to giggle; she hasn't any accomplishments; I never saw anyone with less diginity; she's abominable, and damnably hot at hand, frank to a fault, and-a darling! — Georgette Heyer

The landlord was trying to explain that there were a great many English people in his house, all fighting duels or having hysterics. — Georgette Heyer

In this case," said Randall unpleasantly, "it affords me purer gratification to dwell upon the thought of my dear Aunt Gertrude duped and betrayed."
"Your aunt doesn't suffer throught it!"
"What a pity!" said Randall. — Georgette Heyer

I wish to God I might induce her to mind me!' he ejaculated. — Georgette Heyer

Upon her butler's announcing the arrival of Mr Ravenscar, Lady Mablethorpe, who had been dozing over a novel from the Circulating Library, sat up with a jerk, and raised a hand to her dishevelled cap. — Georgette Heyer

You've never been in a scrape yet but what it came about by accident. The thing is, no one else has these accidents. — Georgette Heyer

Yes, but we do not know that he snores, my love,' Lady Ombersley pointed out. 'Indeed, we may be almost certain that he does not, for his manners are so very gentleman-like!' 'A man who would contract the mumps,' declared Cecilia, 'would do anything! — Georgette Heyer

If I must consort with rogues [ ... ] I own I like them to be in the grand manner. — Georgette Heyer

He didn't choose between me and you, Julia: it was between me and ruin. — Georgette Heyer

Gentlemen don't understand anything, however wise they may be. — Georgette Heyer

I devoutly hope you are wrong, my dear," replied his lordship humourously. "For when my father
uses every means to achieve an end, he invariably does achieve it."
Miss Challoner got up, smiling a little ironically. "Vastly pretty, my lord. I could almost suppose that
you wanted to marry me."
She moved towards the door which his lordship held open for her. "I assure you, ma'am, I am
becoming hourly more reconciled to the prospect," he said, and surprised her by taking her hand and
kissing it, very much in the grand manner. — Georgette Heyer

She was generally considered to be a pretty woman; and, since she was as good-natured as she was foolish, she was almost universally liked. — Georgette Heyer

I'll tell you something else too; by the time we're through we shall have had all we can stand of this North woman. I wouldn't mind betting she thinks we have nothing better to do than run around in circles while she gets on with this three-act problem play of hers. — Georgette Heyer

Bustle about Noddy, or we shant be in time to snabble any of the lobster patties. — Georgette Heyer

How the duece would you know the right way to go on if you was never taught anything but the wrong way? — Georgette Heyer

If you had not done such a shabby thing to me I would not have had you kidnapped. — Georgette Heyer

What a leg. What an air. A most engaging smile. — Georgette Heyer

Then Frederica went towards him, holding out her hand, and he raised his eyes from Felix's eager countenance, and smiled at her, causing Mr. Moreton to suffer a shock. It was not at all the sort of smile with which his lordship beguiled his flirts, but something warmer and more intimate. Good God! mentally ejaculated Mr. Moreton. Sits the wind in that quarter? — Georgette Heyer

How very odd, to be sure!' 'What is?' She walked on, her brow a little furrowed. 'Wishing to kiss someone you never saw before in your life. It seems quite mad-brained to me, besides showing a sad want of particularity. — Georgette Heyer

Reality is the only place you can deal from. If you're still worrying about the way things should be, you haven't even approached the starting line. — Georgette Mosbacher

Depend upon it, you are just the sort of girl a man would be glad to have for his sister! You don't even know how to swoon, and I daresay if you tried you would make wretched work of it, for all you have is common sense, and of what use is that, pray? — Georgette Heyer

Never hesitate to show your own staff that you need help. They need to be reminded how important they are to the process. In life and in business, we rely on each other to be responsible for individual tasks that benefit everyone. People sometimes forget how much interdependence there really is in a successful business. Learn the art of asking for help to empower and motivate others, and you will have learned a very powerful management strategy. — Georgette Mosbacher

No, but on the other hand you don't enact me Cheltenham tragedies when I've barely swallowed my breakfast. — Georgette Heyer

That drew a laugh from Jessamy, but he said, after a moment: "You had better flay me. It was my fault - all my fault!"

"I was wondering how long it would be before you contrived to convince yourself that you were to blame," said Alverstoke caustically. "I haven't the slightest wish to know how you arrived at such an addlebrained conclusion, so don't put yourself to the trouble of telling me! — Georgette Heyer

Do you recall Fred Merriville?"
She stared at him. "Fred Merriville? Pray, what has he to say to anything?"
"The poor fellow has nothing to say: he's dead, alas! — Georgette Heyer

Unless you have financial resources of your own, you can't be free. — Georgette Mosbacher

The truth is that I told Lucius Kennet and Silas to kidnap you for me, but I thought they could do it without using any horrid stratagems! That was fair enough! There could be no possible objection, for how could I kidnap you myself? — Georgette Heyer

I liked that young man, did not you? There was something particularly pleasing about his manners, which I thought very easy and frank. He has an air of honest manliness, too, which, in these days of fribbles and counter-coxcombs, I own I find refreshing! — Georgette Heyer

the Reverend Felix Clowne, — Georgette Heyer

I could manage him,' she sighed. 'Oh, but I could! — Georgette Heyer

I think myself I ought to be shot for writing such nonsense ... But it's unquestionably good escapist literature and I think I should rather like it if I were sitting in an air-raid shelter or recovering from flu. — Georgette Heyer

There is nothing so mortifying as to fall in love with someone who does not share one's sentiments. — Georgette Heyer

In the end, raising money is basically a matter of going out there and asking. There are no shortcuts. — Georgette Mosbacher

Yes, Nicky, but you think I know everything because I never tell you anything I am not quite certain of — Georgette Heyer

I cannot bear to go back alone - to the world I have lived in with you. — Georgette Heyer

I comfort myself with the reflection that your wife will possibly be able to curb your desire
I admit, a natural one for the most part
to exterminate your fellows. — Georgette Heyer

No, no I wouldn't annoy him for the world!" Aubrey said. "I do think he was quite pleased to see his little Aubrey, don't you? I have always regarded myself as the feminine influence in the family and quite definitely beneficent. — Georgette Heyer

But it is infamous that they have not told you!' declared Eustacie. 'Je n'en reviendrai jamais!'
'If it's all the same to you, miss, I'd just as soon you'd talk in a Christian language,' said Mr. Stubbs. — Georgette Heyer

I'll see the color of your money, my lord."
My lord folded the paper. He was still smiling. "It would disappoint you, my friend. It is just the same colour as everyone else's. — Georgette Heyer

Venetia had no guile, and no affectations; she knew the world only by the books she had read; experience had never taught her to doubt the sincerity of anyone who did her a kindness. — Georgette Heyer

It chances that I'd a letter myself by today's post, from Uncle Jonas Henry.' He chuckled. 'Seemingly he's as throng as he can be, and a trifle hackled with me for loitering here. I shall have to post off to Huddersfield next week, sir - and a bear-garden jaw I'll get when I arrive there, if I know Jonas Henry! — Georgette Heyer

Eccentricity may be diverting, Mama, but it is out of place in a wife: certainly in my wife! — Georgette Heyer

Are you aware, ma'am, that it is my intention to marry Lucilla myself?'
There was a slight pause. Miss Fairfax said rather carefully, 'I was aware of it, sir, but I have always been at a loss to know why. [...]'
'If you mean that I am not in love with her, no, certainly I am not!' responded the Earl stiffly. 'The match was the wish of both our fathers.'
'How elevating it is to encounter such filial piety in these days!' observed Miss Fairfax soulfully. — Georgette Heyer

There is a worse tyranny than that of ill-treatment. It is the tyranny of tears, vapours, appeals to feelings of affection and of gratitude! — Georgette Heyer

Fair Fatality, you are the most unusual female I have encountered in all my thirty-eight years!" "You can't think how deeply flattered I am!" she assured him. "I daresay my head would be quite turned if I didn't suspect that amongst so many a dozen or so may have slipped from your memory. — Georgette Heyer

Monseigneur, I have killed you! You are dead! You are dead!"
You display an unseemly joy," he remarked. "I had no notion you were so bloodthirsty. — Georgette Heyer

Mrs Hendred did not like the people around her to be unhappy. Even the sight of a housemaid crying with the pain of the toothache made her feel low, for misery had no place in her comfortable existence; and when it obtruded itself on her notice it dimmed the warm sunshine in which she basked, and quite ruined her belief in a world where everyone was contented, and affluent, and cheerful. — Georgette Heyer

A certain cynicism, born of the life she has led; a streak of strange wisdom; the wistfulness behind the gaiety; sometimes fear; and nearly always the memory of loneliness that hurts the soul. — Georgette Heyer

Do you forget that I am your sister?"
"No; I've never been granted the opportunity to forget it. — Georgette Heyer

It is so stupid to say, as Edward does, that Aubrey ought to like what he detests, because other boys do. Aubrey is himself, and no one can alter him, so what is the use of saying he ought, when he won't? — Georgette Heyer

*You* may call [Charis] angelic to be for ever trying to please everyone, and being sorry for those she *can't* please, but I don't! Addle-brained is what *I* call it!'
'Oh, no!' uttered Charis imploringly.
'Oh, yes!' he retorted. 'Told you so before! If you don't take care, Charis, you'll end by being sorry for yourself! All for the want of a little resolution! What if Mrs Dauntry and Frederica don't like it [a marriage between you and Endymion]? They'll come round! And you needn't look at me as ugly as bull-beef, Endymion, because I'll say what I choose to my own sister! — Georgette Heyer

My God, Justin, do you hate him so?"
"Bah!" said his Grace ... "does one hate an adder? Because it is venomous and loathsome one crushes it underfoot, as I shall crush this Comte. — Georgette Heyer

You can't go about smelling of April and May, the pair of you, and then expect to gull people into thinking you don't mean to get riveted! — Georgette Heyer

Surely, cousin, you cannot mean to *jilt* her?' said Anthea, in accents of reprobation.
'Nay, it wouldn't be seemly,' he agreed. 'I'll just have to dispose of her, as you might say.'
'Good God! *Murder* her?'
'There's no need to be in a quake,' he said reassuringly. 'No one will ever know!'
'If only - oh, if only I could do to you what I *long* to do!' exclaimed Anthea. 'If you were but a *few* inches shorter
!'
He said hopefully: 'Nay, don't let that fatch you, love! It'll be no trouble at all to lift you up: in fact, there's nothing I'd like better!'
Furiously blushing, she retorted: 'I didn't mean that I wished to *kiss* you! — Georgette Heyer

I am selfish, father? Because I will not become the thing I despise?"
"And narrow, Philips, to despise what you do not know."
"I am to be a painted popinjay! I tell you, sir, Cleone may take me as I am!"
"Or leave you as you are," said Sir Maurice gently. — Georgette Heyer

After all, life was not made up of moments of exaltation, but of quite ordinary, everyday things — Georgette Heyer

All the goodness, beauty, and perfection of a human being belong to the one who knows how to recognize these qualities. — Georgette Leblanc

Will you marry me, vile and abominable girl that you are?
Yes, but, mind, it only to save my neck from being wrung! — Georgette Heyer

I don't know how it is ... but you seem to think me something wonderful, and indeed, I am not. — Georgette Heyer

I have never met the man who had vision large enough to appreciate my genius," he said simply. "Perhaps it was not to be expected. — Georgette Heyer

Lady Denville replied with dignity that she had never felt the smallest preference for either of her twin sons.

'Of course not! How should you, when you can't tell us apart?' said Mr Fancot — Georgette Heyer

I'm not talking nonsense, lass. I'd give you the whole of the moon if I could, and throw in the stars for good measure,' he said, taking her hand, and kissing it. 'You couldn't be content with less? — Georgette Heyer

This is my cousin, by the way. I dare say you know of him. He is very wicked and kills people in duels. Vidal, this is Frederick.' His — Georgette Heyer

Glamour might still have clung to a rakehell who abducted noble damsels, but no glamour remained about a man who had been pushed into a pond in full ball-dress. — Georgette Heyer

Yeah, Jennifer, when you explain the joke, it kind of ruins the magic." "So long as you think I'm magic," she said with a wink, — Georgette St. Clair

It was like a bad dream, in which people one knew quite well behaved fantastically, and one was powerless to escape from some dreadful doom. — Georgette Heyer

May I have a workshop at Alver? For experiments? If I promise faithfully not to blow the house up? If you please, Cousin Alverstoke ... ? — Georgette Heyer