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Margaret Cavendish Quotes

Powerful Margaret Cavendish for Daily Growth

About Margaret Cavendish

Margaret Cavendish, born Margaret Lucas in 1623, was an English aristocrat, philosopher, playwright, poet, and scientific writer. She was the daughter of Sir William Lucas, a lawyer, and Katherine Whalley, both members of prominent gentry families in Lincolnshire. At age eighteen, she married William Cavendish, the second son of the powerful Earl of Newcastle, in a match that elevated her to court society. After his accession as seventh Earl in 1643, she accompanied him to his estate at Welbeck Abbey and later to their London townhouse. Cavendish's literary career began in the late 1650s when she produced a series of works that spanned philosophy, poetry, and fiction. Her most notable work, "The Blazing World" (1666), is a novel about an unnamed female protagonist who travels to an imaginary world, where she builds an empire based on her artistic and scientific visions. The work showcases her philosophical ideas about the natural world, women's intellectual capacities, and the nature of reality. Cavendish was influenced by various philosophers of her time, including René Descartes and Pierre Gassendi, but she also developed her unique philosophical system, known as Pluralism or Occasionalism. This theory posits that God is the only active substance in the universe, and all other things are passive modifications of His power. Throughout her life, Cavendish championed women's intellectual abilities and encouraged their education, despite facing significant opposition from contemporary society. Her legacy continues to inspire scholars, writers, and thinkers alike, as she remains one of the first significant women in the history of science and literature.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I would fain be a true penny, if I were but a penny."

In this quote, Margaret Cavendish expresses her desire to lead an honest and simple life, comparable to that of a common penny - ordinary yet valuable in its own right. The phrase "fain be" indicates her earnest wish or longing for such a lifestyle, one where her worth is not defined by wealth, status, or power, but rather by her authenticity and integrity.

"The greatest thing a man hath is to see in himself that he may see in others."

This quote by Margaret Cavendish emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and introspection in understanding others. It suggests that if one can perceive their own qualities, they are better equipped to recognize similar traits in others. Essentially, Cavendish is saying that a deep understanding of oneself paves the way for empathy, compassion, and effective communication with others.

"For there is nothing so hard to be got by endeavour as tranquility of mind."

This quote by Margaret Cavendish suggests that achieving a peaceful, calm, or tranquil state of mind is one of the most challenging goals, requiring persistent effort. It implies that maintaining mental stability amidst life's challenges is not an easy feat but an ongoing pursuit that demands perseverance and dedication. In essence, the quote underscores the value of inner peace and emphasizes its elusive yet essential nature in our lives.

"To be brief is the perfection of art, but it requires the strength and skill of an artist."

This quote suggests that brevity in communication or expression, while considered a mark of artistic excellence, is challenging to achieve. It implies that the ability to convey complex ideas succinctly requires both great strength (mastery) and skill (expertise) in one's craft.

"The greatest pleasure I know, is to do a good action by stealth, and to have it found out by accident."

This quote by Margaret Cavendish suggests that one's deepest satisfaction comes from performing a kind act anonymously, only to be discovered later by chance. It emphasizes the joy of selfless actions and the element of surprise or revelation in such acts, which can be particularly meaningful when others recognize their value and impact.

My mother was a good mistress to her servants, taking care of them in their sicknesses, not sparing any cost she was able to bestow for their recovery.

- Margaret Cavendish

Recovery, Cost, Them, Sparing

For disorder obstructs: besides, it doth disgust life, distract the appetities, and yield no true relish to the senses.

- Margaret Cavendish

Senses, Doth, Disorder, Yield

In such misfortunes my Mother was of an heroic spirit, in suffering patiently when there was no remedy, and being industrious where she thought she could help.

- Margaret Cavendish

Thought, Could, Misfortunes, Remedy

Indeed, I was so afraid to dishonour my friends and family by my indiscreet actions, that I rather chose to be accounted a fool, than to be thought rude or wanton.

- Margaret Cavendish

Thought, Rather, Indeed, Indiscreet

And though I might have learnt more wit and advanced my understanding by living in a Court, yet being dull, fearful and bashful, I neither heeded what was said or practised, but just what belonged to my loyal duty and my own honest reputation.

- Margaret Cavendish

Own, Bashful, Advanced, Heeded

Not that I am ashamed of my mind or body, my birth or breeding, my actions or fortunes, for my bashfulness is in my nature, not for any crime.

- Margaret Cavendish

Nature, Mind, Ashamed, Fortunes

For I, hearing my Lord's estate amongst many more estates was to be sold, and that the wives of the owners should have an allowance therefrom, it gave me hopes I should receive a benefit thereby.

- Margaret Cavendish

Sold, Receive, Estates, Allowance

As for our garments, my Mother did not only delight to see us neat and cleanly, fine and gay, but rich and costly: maintaining us to the heighth of her estate, but not beyond it.

- Margaret Cavendish

Rich, Estate, Our, Delight

As for plenty, we had not only for necessity, conveniency and decency, but for delight and pleasure to superfluity.

- Margaret Cavendish

Pleasure, Only, Plenty, Delight

A rude nature is worse than a brute nature by so much more as man is better than a beast: and those that are of civil natures and genteel dispositions are as much nearer to celestial creatures as those that are rude and cruel are to devils.

- Margaret Cavendish

Nature, Creatures, Natures, Celestial

And though my Lord hath lost his estate and been banished out of his country, yet neither despised poverty nor pinching necessity could make him break the bonds of friendship or weaken his loyal duty.

- Margaret Cavendish

Friendship, Country, Been, Pinching

Indeed I did not stand as a beggar at the Parliament door, for I never was at the Parliament-House, nor stood I ever at the door as I do know or can remember; not as a petitioner I am sure.

- Margaret Cavendish

Door, Sure, Stood, Beggar

For Pleasure, Delight, Peace and Felicity live in method and temperance.

- Margaret Cavendish

Peace, Pleasure, Method, Delight

Not because they were servants were we so reserved, for many noble persons are forced to serve through necessity, but by reason the vulgar sort of servants are as ill bred as meanly born, giving children ill examples and worse counsel.

- Margaret Cavendish

Reason, Through, Bred, Servants

First, they were bred when I was not capable to observe or before I was born; likewise the breeding of men is of a different manner from that of women.

- Margaret Cavendish

I Was Born, Before, Bred, Likewise

My other brother, the Lord Lucas, who was heir to my father's estate, and as it were the father to take care of us all, is not less valiant than they were, although his skill in the discipline of war was not so much, not being bred therein.

- Margaret Cavendish

Other, Bred, Lucas, Valiant

Marriage is the grave or tomb of wit.

- Margaret Cavendish

Marriage, Grave, Tomb, Wit

Indeed I had not much wit, yet I was not an idiot - my wit was according to my years.

- Margaret Cavendish

Idiot, Had, According, Wit

And not only my own brothers and sisters agreed so but my brothers and sisters in law; and their children, although but young, had the like agreeable natures and affectionate dispositions.

- Margaret Cavendish

Law, Young, Brothers, Natures

But if our sex would but well consider and rationally ponder, they will perceive and find that it is neither words nor place that can advance them, but worth and merit.

- Margaret Cavendish

Sex, Will, Rationally, Perceive

As for my brothers, of whom I had three, I know not how they were bred.

- Margaret Cavendish

How, Brothers, Were, Bred

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