Her other major work was Maxims, published in 1779. This consists of 57 "maxims" or moral proverbs of her own devising; for example, maxim LVII:
- "Praise is the Offspring of Esteem,
- And Affection the Parent of Praise."
Some have a slightly harder satirical or radical edge, such as maxim LI:
- "When the Nobles become dissolute, the
- People in general grow licentious, and
- Many of the Clergy lax, as a Number of
- Benefices originate in corrupt Patrons."
Read more about this topic: Jane Gomeldon
Famous quotes containing the word maxims:
“upon these maxims meditate:
All women dote upon an idle man
Although their children need a rich estate;
No man has ever lived that had enough
Of children’s gratitude or woman’s love.”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)
“Then did they strive with emulation who should repeat most wise maxims importing the necessity of suspicion in the choice of our friends—such as “mistrust is the mother of security,” with many more to the same effect.... But notwithstanding the esteem which they professed for suspicion, yet did they think proper to veil it under the name of caution.”
—Sarah Fielding (1710–1768)
“... whilst you are proclaiming peace and good will to men, Emancipating all Nations, you insist upon retaining absolute power over wives. But you must remember that Arbitrary power is like most other things which are very hard, very liable to be broken—and notwithstanding all your wise Laws and Maxims we have it in our power not only to free ourselves but to subdue our Masters, and without violence throw both your natural and legal authority at our feet ...”
—Abigail Adams (1744–1818)