Mary Shelley Quotes

Powerful Mary Shelley for Daily Growth

About Mary Shelley

Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, more famously known as Mary Shelley, was born on August 30, 1797, in London. She was the daughter of the influential philosopher William Godwin and feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft, who died eleven days after her birth. This early loss significantly influenced Mary's life and work. At the age of seventeen, she met Percy Bysshe Shelley, a married man thirteen years her senior, whom she later eloped with in 1814. The couple faced societal ostracism due to their unconventional relationship and a series of personal tragedies, including the death of their first child and Percy's death in a boating accident in 1822. Mary Shelley is best known as the author of "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus," published anonymously in 1818 at the age of nineteen. This Gothic novel was inspired by ghost stories exchanged while the couple vacationed on Lake Geneva with Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron. The story, which explores themes of science, morality, and creation, has become a timeless classic and an essential work in the genre. In addition to "Frankenstein," Mary Shelley wrote several other novels, including "Valperga" (1823), "The Last Man" (1826), and "Falkner" (1837). She also edited and introduced editions of her parents' works. Despite the challenges in her personal life, Mary Shelley made significant contributions to English literature, leaving a lasting impact on Gothic fiction and feminist thought. She died on February 1, 1851, in London. Notable quotes by Mary Shelley include: * "I had loved and lost, and I knew that the furious passion which had animated me was not for myself—it was a kind of mania, born of over-excitement, which had fair objects, and fierce shadows; yet might leave me as well as it found me—desolate and cold." * "I collected facts, and arranged them with an eye to probability and possibility." * "I am by heritage a revolutionary, by instinct a romantic."

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I had watched until it was the morning of my birthday; and the sun began to peep over the alps."

The quote by Mary Shelley suggests a moment of profound personal reflection or rebirth, as her character observes the dawning of a new day on their birthday, symbolizing the beginning of a new chapter in life, with the sun's rising over the majestic alps serving as a backdrop for renewal and growth.


"I busied myself to think of a story, which would speak to the mysterious fears of our nature, and awaken thrilling horror—one that would rival Aeschylus."

This quote indicates that Mary Shelley sought to create a story that would evoke deep, instinctual fear within her readers, while also drawing comparisons to ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus' mastery of creating such emotions through his works. Essentially, she aimed to craft a narrative as haunting and impactful as Aeschylus' best works, exploring universal human fears in a compelling way.


"Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world."

In this quote, Mary Shelley expresses a desire to transcend traditional boundaries between life and death, seeking to bring light and understanding to a world shrouded in darkness. This is a metaphorical exploration of the human spirit's yearning for knowledge, growth, and enlightenment beyond the physical constraints of existence.


"Few human beings could deny that their mortal frame had felt the agony which Victor endured."

This quote emphasizes the universal capacity for empathy, suggesting that most people can relate to the intense pain experienced by Victor in Mary Shelley's novel "Frankenstein." The author is saying that despite our individual differences, we all share a common humanity, with the ability to feel and understand deep emotional suffering. This quote encourages readers to consider the depth of Victor's struggle and to reflect on their own capacity for compassion and understanding.


"I am malformed. I am evil. It is my nature."

This quote from Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" reflects the monster's deep-seated feelings of self-loathing and isolation, stemming from his belief that he was flawed and abhorred by society due to his unnatural creation. It highlights his internal struggle with his identity as a being born out of scientific experimentation rather than natural procreation, and his perception of himself as inherently evil due to the harm he inflicts on others in response to their rejection. This quote underscores the monster's tragic fate and the profound consequences of playing god and creating life without consideration for the emotional and social complexities that come with it.


My dreams were all my own; I accounted for them to nobody; they were my refuge when annoyed - my dearest pleasure when free.

- Mary Shelley

Dreams, Pleasure, Dearest, My Own

My dreams were at once more fantastic and agreeable than my writings.

- Mary Shelley

Once, Writings, Were, Agreeable

Teach him to think for himself? Oh, my God, teach him rather to think like other people!

- Mary Shelley

Think, Other, Himself, Oh My God

I am very averse to bringing myself forward in print, but as my account will only appear as an appendage to a former production, and as it will be confined to such topics as have connection with my authorship alone, I can hardly accuse myself of a personal intrusion.

- Mary Shelley

Very, Averse, Accuse, Intrusion

A slavish bondage to parents cramps every faculty of the mind.

- Mary Shelley

Mind, Bondage, Slavish, Faculty

What terrified me will terrify others; and I need only describe the spectre which had haunted my midnight pillow.

- Mary Shelley

Midnight, Which, Terrify, Haunted

But I am a blasted tree; the bolt has entered my soul; and I felt then that I should survive to exhibit what I shall soon cease to be - a miserable spectacle of wrecked humanity, pitiable to others and intolerable to myself.

- Mary Shelley

Soul, Soon, Pitiable, Intolerable

Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of void, but out of chaos.

- Mary Shelley

Chaos, Admitted, Void, Invention

Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world.

- Mary Shelley

Through, Ideal, Which, Bounds

It is hardly surprising that women concentrate on the way they look instead of what is in their minds since not much has been put in their minds to begin with.

- Mary Shelley

Been, Surprising, Instead, Hardly

Life is obstinate and clings closest where it is most hated.

- Mary Shelley

Most, Where, Obstinate, Closest

The agony of my feelings allowed me no respite; no incident occurred from which my rage and misery could not extract its food.

- Mary Shelley

Which, Occurred, Allowed, Extract

A king is always a king - and a woman always a woman: his authority and her sex ever stand between them and rational converse.

- Mary Shelley

Woman, King, Always, Converse

And now, once again, I bid my hideous progeny go forth and prosper. I have an affection for it, for it was the offspring of happy days, when death and grief were but words, which found no true echo in my heart.

- Mary Shelley

Death, Happy, Offspring, Grief

The very winds whispered in soothing accents, and maternal Nature bade me weep no more.

- Mary Shelley

Nature, Very, Soothing, Winds

Nothing contributes so much to tranquilize the mind as a steady purpose - a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye.

- Mary Shelley

Mind, May, Which, Steady

Elegance is inferior to virtue.

- Mary Shelley

Elegance, Inferior, Virtue

I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves.

- Mary Shelley

Women, Wish, Over, Themselves

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.