Quotes by Edith Wharton
The truest prisons are those we build for ourselves, brick by careful brick of expectation.
A woman's strength is not found in her beauty, but in her ability to navigate a world designed to diminish her.
Elegance is not merely in the gown, but in the spirit that wears it.
The keenest suffering often lies not in what is lost, but in the lingering echo of what might have been.
A woman's worth is not measured in possessions, but in the strength of her spirit.
It is far easier to judge the flaws of others than to confront the imperfections within ourselves.
A woman's greatest strength lies not in her beauty, but in her capacity for independent thought.
The past is a tapestry; we can unravel threads, but we cannot rewrite the whole cloth.
The pursuit of happiness, when divorced from purpose, is a barren and ultimately unsatisfying endeavor.
Society's gaze is a mirror, reflecting back not who we are, but who it demands we be.
We cling to ideals long after experience has proven them illusory.
Society demands conformity, but the spirit yearns for its own wilderness.
The truest prisons are those we build ourselves, brick by careful brick of expectation and regret.
Society often rewards a polished surface, while genuine character festers beneath.
Sometimes, the most courageous act is simply to remain silent.
Fashion is fleeting, but style endures. Know thyself, and dress accordingly.
The pursuit of happiness is often a chase after shadows, while substance remains unnoticed at our feet.
The most devastating betrayals are not those of enemies, but of the illusions we hold dear.
The most stifling prisons are often those we build ourselves, brick by painstaking brick.
The greatest fortunes are often squandered by those who never earned them.
The most exquisite gowns often conceal the deepest sorrows.
To be truly free is to acknowledge the gilded cage we construct for ourselves.
To truly know oneself is to confront the shadows, not merely admire the light.
One can construct a life of quiet desperation behind even the most glittering facade.
In the theatre of life, we are all actors, improvising our roles in a play we did not write.
Fashion fades, but style endures. It is the imprint of the soul.
To truly know a person, observe not their words, but the spaces between them.
The truest betrayals are not those of passion, but of convenience.
A society's worth is measured not by its grand gestures, but by the kindness in its small acts.
To cling to the past is to deny the possibility of a future.
The past is a relentless companion, forever whispering its half-truths in our ear.
Good taste is the subtle art of knowing when to stop, and when to begin anew.
In the tapestry of life, some threads are chosen for us; it is our art to weave them into something beautiful.
The pursuit of perfection often blinds us to the beauty of imperfection.
To choose happiness is an act of defiance against a world determined to offer you its anxieties.
Regret is a heavy cloak, woven from the threads of missed opportunities.
There is a certain freedom in accepting the boundaries of one's own capabilities.
One often mistakes habit for happiness, and finds the awakening quite cruel.
In the grand theatre of life, one must learn to play their part, even if the script is poorly written.
The art of survival often lies in mastering the delicate dance between adaptation and defiance.
One cannot truly know joy without having danced with its shadow, melancholy.
Elegance is not merely adornment, but a reflection of inner harmony.
Elegance is not merely adornment; it is the disciplined refusal to be anything less than oneself.