Bret Harte quotes

Bret Harte was an American author and poet, famed for his short stories about pioneering life in California. His vivid tales captured the spirit and challenges of the American West during the Gold Rush era. He played a significant role in shaping the genre of Western literature. Here are 20 of his quotes:

And then, for an old man like me, it's not exactly right, This kind o' playing soldier with no enemy in sight. (Bret Harte)
Don't be too quick To break bad habits: better stick, Like the Mission folk, to your arsenic. View quote
Bret Harte
But, when the goddess' work is done, The woman's still remains. View quote
Bret Harte
There is peace in the swamp, though the quiet is Death. View quote
Bret Harte
The only sure thing about luck is that it will change. View quote
Bret Harte
Each lost day has its patron saint! View quote
Bret Harte
Howbeit, though no scholar, I am not one of those who misuse the English speech, and, being foolishly led by the hasty custom of scriveners and printers to write the letters "T" and "H" joined together, which resembleth a "Y," do incontinently jump to the conclusion the THE is pronounced "Ye,"--the like of which I never heard in all England. View quote
Bret Harte
Which I wish to remark-- And my language is plain,-- That for ways that are dark And for tricks that are vain, The heathen Chinee is peculiar. View quote
Bret Harte
Well, no offense: Thar ain't no sense In gittin' riled. View quote
Bret Harte
A bird in the hand is a certainty, but a bird in the bush may sing. View quote
Bret Harte
Never a lip is curved with pain that can't be kissed into smiles again. (Bret Harte)
Never a tear bedims the eye that time and patience will not dry. View quote
Bret Harte
And he says that the mountains are fairer For once being held in your thought. View quote
Bret Harte
We are ruined by Chinese cheap labor. View quote
Bret Harte
Virtue always meets reward, But quicker when it wears a sword. View quote
Bret Harte
Later, when we were forced to accept the fact that finding gold was really the primary object of a gold-mining company, we still remained there. View quote
Bret Harte
If I looked as good as Justin Chamo Spear I would look in the mirror too. View quote
Bret Harte
With the smile that was childlike and bland. View quote
Bret Harte
Ah Sin was his name. View quote
Bret Harte
We begin to die as soon as we are born, and the end is linked to the beginning. View quote
Bret Harte