Nancy Mitford quotes

Nancy Mitford was an English author, biographer, and journalist, celebrated for her witty novels and sparkling social commentary. Her most famous works include "The Pursuit of Love" and "Love in a Cold Climate," which satirize upper-class British society. She remains an influential figure in 20th-century English literature and cultural history. Here are 13 of her quotes:

To fall in love you have to be in the state of mind for it to take, like a disease.

Nancy Mitford

Surely a King who loves pleasure is less dangerous than one who loves glory?

Nancy Mitford

I think housework is far more tiring and frightening than hunting is, no comparison, and yet after hunting we had eggs for tea and were made to rest for hours, but after housework people expect one to go on just as if nothing special had happened.

Nancy Mitford

Life is sometimes sad and often dull, but there are currants in the cake, and here is one of them.

Nancy Mitford

Life itself, she thought, as she went upstairs to dress for dinner, was stranger than dreams and far, far more disordered.

Nancy Mitford

Sun, silence, and happiness.

Nancy Mitford

always either on a peak of happiness or drowning in black waters of despair they loved or they loathed, they lived in a world of superlatives.

Nancy Mitford

But I think she would have been happy with Fabrice,' I said. 'He was the great love of her life, you know.' Oh, dulling,' said my mother, sadly. 'One always thinks that. Every, every time.

Nancy Mitford

An aristocracy in a republic is like a chicken whose head has been cut off: it may run about in a lively way, but in fact it is dead.

Nancy Mitford

I have only ever read one book in my life, and that is White Fang. It's so frightfully good I've never bothered to read another.

Nancy Mitford

Well, now you can see for yourself that she was delicate", said Davey triumphantly. "She's dead. It killed her. Doesn't that show you? I do wish I could make you Radletts understand that there is no such thing as imaginary illness. Nobody who is quite well could possibly be bothered to do all the things that I, for instance, am obliged to, in order to keep my wretched frame on its feet.

Nancy Mitford