Mignon Mclaughlin Quotes

Powerful Mignon Mclaughlin for Daily Growth

About Mignon Mclaughlin

Mignon McLaughlin (1913-1983) was an American journalist, editor, and author known for her insightful quotes that continue to resonate today. Born on August 4, 1913, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, McLaughlin's life and work were deeply influenced by her upbringing in a socially conscious family. Her father was a Presbyterian minister, and her mother was active in social welfare causes. This early exposure to issues of social justice shaped her worldview and fueled her commitment to advocacy throughout her career. After graduating from Bryn Mawr College in 1934, McLaughlin began her journalistic career at the New York Herald Tribune. She later became a staff writer for Cosmopolitan magazine and the editor-in-chief of Glamour. In these roles, she wrote widely on topics ranging from fashion to social issues, demonstrating her versatility as a journalist and thinker. In 1960, McLaughlin published "The Neurotic's Notebook," a collection of witty observations and insights about the human condition. This book was followed by "Take Time for Yourself: The Art (and Ritual) of Self-Nurturing" in 1973, which offered practical advice on self-care and personal growth. However, her most enduring work is perhaps "The Good Life and Other Dilemmas," published posthumously in 1986. This compilation of McLaughlin's essays touches on a wide range of topics, including love, friendship, and the pursuit of happiness. McLaughlin's work continues to be celebrated for its wit, wisdom, and profound insights into the human condition. Her quotes are frequently shared online, testifying to their enduring relevance in contemporary discourse. Despite her passing in 1983, Mignon McLaughlin's legacy as a thoughtful and insightful writer remains strong, inspiring readers with her unique perspective on life's dilemmas.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"A man can be as huge as all outdoors, but he doesn't belong there if he can't live in a house small enough to be called a home."

The quote emphasizes that while a person may have vast potential or ambition (as big as "all outdoors"), their true belonging lies in maintaining a balance between the grand scope of life and the simplicity of personal space, symbolized by a small yet meaningful "home". It suggests that one's significance should not only be measured by the expanse of their endeavors but also by their ability to create and cherish intimate environments.


"The more you realize you don't know, the more patient you become with yourself and others."

This quote suggests that as one becomes increasingly aware of their own limitations in knowledge, they grow more understanding and tolerant towards themselves and others. Essentially, recognizing our own ignorance fosters humility and empathy. It underscores the importance of curiosity, continuous learning, and patience in human interactions.


"In every man's heart there is a tiger cage, and in it lives a dreaming tiger."

This quote suggests that within each person lies an untamed, wild aspiration or ambition - a 'tiger' that dreams and yearns for fulfillment. The 'tiger cage' is the individual's own heart, symbolizing the confines of one's self, and yet also the source of boundless potential and energy. To truly live a meaningful life, it's essential to recognize, nurture, and unleash this inner tiger to realize our unique dreams and aspirations.


"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

This quote emphasizes the enduring impact emotions have on others in our interactions. While specific actions or words may be forgotten over time, the feelings evoked by those interactions remain etched in memory. In other words, it's not just about what we say or do, but how we make others feel that truly leaves a lasting impression. This insight underscores the importance of empathy and kindness when communicating with people to foster positive connections and relationships.


"You can never really live anyone else's life, not even your child's. The influence you exert is through your own life, and what you've become yourself."

This quote emphasizes the unique nature of individual lives and personal growth. It suggests that while we may strive to shape or influence others, ultimately, one can only live their own life. A parent cannot live their child's life, nor can anyone else for that matter. The impact we have on those around us is achieved through our personal development, becoming the best version of ourselves. Essentially, it underscores the importance of focusing on self-improvement and living authentically rather than trying to control or live vicariously through others.


A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Love, Marriage, Always, Person

We'd all like a reputation for generosity, and we'd all like to buy it cheap.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Reputation, Like, Buy, Generosity

We would all like a reputation for generosity and we'd all like to buy it cheap.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Like, Buy, Would, Generosity

Albert Einstein when asked what he considered to be the most powerful force in the universe answered: Compound interest! What you have become is the price you paid to get what you used to want.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Want, Answered, Considered, Asked

Every society honors its live conformists and its dead troublemakers.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Society, Dead, Troublemakers, Honors

Society honors its living conformists and its dead troublemakers.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Society, Dead, Troublemakers, Honors

What you can't get out of, get into wholeheartedly.

- Mignon McLaughlin

You, Out, Get, Wholeheartedly

Love unlocks doors and opens windows that weren't even there before.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Love, Doors, Even, Opens

We all become great explorers during our first few days in a new city, or a new love affair.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Love, Travel, New, Explorers

A woman telling her true age is like a buyer confiding his final price to an Armenian rug dealer.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Age, Woman, Telling, Armenian

Learning too soon our limitations, we never learn our powers.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Learn, Never, Too, Powers

It's innocence when it charms us, ignorance when it doesn't.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Ignorance, Innocence, Us, Charms

It took man thousands of years to put words down on paper, and his lawyers still wish he wouldn't.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Lawyers, Still, Took, Thousands Of Years

In the arithmetic of love, one plus one equals everything, and two minus one equals nothing.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Love, Minus, Equals, Arithmetic

For the happiest life, days should be rigorously planned, nights left open to chance.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Life, Chance, Left, Open

Youth is not enough. And love is not enough. And success is not enough. And, if we could achieve it, enough would not be enough.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Love, Success Is, Would, Love Is

Love is the silent saying and saying of a single name.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Love, Romantic, Single, Love Is

A car is useless in New York, essential everywhere else. The same with good manners.

- Mignon McLaughlin

New York, New, Same, Manners

If you made a list of reasons why any couple got married, and another list of the reasons for their divorce, you'd have a hell of a lot of overlapping.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Marriage, Couple, Reasons, Divorce

Most sermons sound to me like commercials - but I can't make out whether God is the Sponsor or the Product.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Product, Like, Sponsor, Sermons

It is important to our friends to believe that we are unreservedly frank with them, and important to friendship that we are not.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Friendship, Important, Frank, Unreservedly

Even cowards can endure hardship; only the brave can endure suspense.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Strength, Hardship, Even, Brave

We are all born brave, trusting and greedy, and most of us remain greedy.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Born, Most, Remain, Brave

If you are brave too often, people will come to expect it of you.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Will, Expect, Too, Brave

I'm glad I don't have to explain to a man from Mars why each day I set fire to dozens of little pieces of paper, and then put them in my mouth.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Explain, Set, Dozens, Each Day

We lavish on animals the love we are afraid to show to people. They might not return it; or worse, they might.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Love, Fear, Lavish, Return

Our strength is often composed of the weakness that we're damned if we're going to show.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Strength, Weakness, Going, Composed

What you have become is the price you paid to get what you used to want.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Want, Price, Get, Paid

Courage can't see around corners but goes around them anyway.

- Mignon McLaughlin

See, Goes, Corners, Anyway

No matter how brilliantly an idea is stated, we will not really be moved unless we have already half thought of it ourselves.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Thought, Will, Half, Brilliantly

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