Edith Wharton

"The truest form of courage is the willingness to be vulnerable."

"There is no substitute for experience in the school of life."

"The greatest wealth is not in money, but in meaningful relationships."

"To be remembered is to have truly lived."

"The beauty of forgiveness is that it frees both the giver and the receiver."

"The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it."

"There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."

"If only we'd stop trying to be happy we could have a pretty good time."

"The fact is that certain periods of time were simply meant for certain people."

"Habit is the deadening influence of unbounded repetition."

"I have always been afraid of banks but more afraid of not having money in them."

"A man who understands how a woman's mind works deserves a medal."

"The saddest thing about love is that cult it demands where nothing else will do."

"One cannot always be a hero, but one can always be a man."

"Beware of making a man who has never been made love to in the right way."

"The real tragedy of life is that people forget how to wonder."

"I wonder if you know how little a woman often gives her husband in return for everything she asks."

"Art and Letters are the twins of imagination."

"There's no such thing as real success without sacrifice."

"The years of a woman's life are of importance only to those who love her."

"A friendship ends when one realizes they are not as important as they thought."

"There is a kind of laughter that sickens the laughter's heart."

"Misfortune has often been conquered through impatience."

"The only certainty is that one must always be ready for change."

"Beauty is the ability to transcend the moment."

"I should like to make you understand that a woman of my age is not a woman who cannot refuse."

"The truth is that true knowledge cannot be rushed."

"Tradition is the enemy of progress but also its anchor."

"In any conflict between heart and head, wisdom lies in their balance."

"A woman's whole life is a history of the affections."