Carolyn Wells

Carolyn Wells (June 18, 1862 — March 26, 1942) was an American mystery author and poet.

Quotes

• A cynic is a man who looks at the world with a monocle in his mind's eye.
  • "Mixed Maxims", in Puck, vol. 45, no. 1186 (July 12, 1899) p. 13

• Of two evils choose the prettier.
  • "Modern Aphorisms", in The Academy, vol. 62 (August 19, 1899) p. 181 (from the Criterion)

• A guilty conscience is the mother of invention.
  • "Mixed Maxims", in The Century Magazine, vol. 62, no. 2 (June 1901) p. 320

• A blunder at the right moment is better than cleverness at the wrong time.
  • Folly for the Wise (Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1904) "More Mixed Maxims", p. 159

• The books we think we ought to read are poky, dull, and dry;
  The books that we would like to read we are ashamed to buy;
  The books that people talk about we never can recall;
  And the books that people give us — oh, they’re the worst of all!
  • "On Books", in Harper's Monthly Magazine, vol. 121, no. 723 (August 1910) p. 484

• I love the Christmas-tide, and yet,
     I notice this, each year I live;
  I always like the gifts I get,
     But how I love the gifts I give!
  • "A Thought", in Life, vol. 62, no. 1623 (December 4, 1913) p. 962

• “A noble theme!” the tyro cried;
     And straightway scribbled off a sonnet.
  “A noble theme,” the poet sighed;
     “I am not fit to write upon it.”
  • "Humility", in The Ladies' Home Journal, vol. 43, no. 8 (August 1926) p. 158

• They borrow books they will not buy,
  They have no ethics or religions;
  I wish some kind Burbankian guy
  Could cross my books with homing pigeons!
  • "Non-Returnable", in The Literary Digest, vol. 112, no. 9 (February 27, 1932) p. 26

• Advice is one of those things it is far more blessed to give than to receive.
  • The Rest of My Life (J. B. Lippincott Co., 1937) "The Vice of Advice", p. 71

• It is the interest one takes in books that makes a library. And if a library have interest it is; if not, it isn't.
  • The Rest of My Life (1937) "Libraries at Large", p. 199

• Youth is a silly, vapid state,
  Old age with fears and ills is rife;
  This simple boon I beg of Fate —
  A thousand years of Middle Life.
  • "My Boon", reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 11th ed. (New York, 1938 [1937]) p. 812

• He laughs best who laughs last,
     The wiseacres vow;
  But I am impatient,
     I want to laugh now.
  • "Delays Are Dangerous", st. 1, reported in Bartlett's (1938) p. 812

• I don't believe the half I hear,
     Nor the quarter of what I see!
  But I have one faith, sublime and true,
     That nothing can shake or slay;
  Each spring I firmly believe anew
     All the seed catalogues say!
  • "One Firm Faith", reported in Bartlett's (1938) p. 813

See also

• Purple Cow Parodies#By Carolyn Wells