Beatrix Potter Quotes

Then Mrs. Tiggy-winkle made tea - a cup for herself and a cup for Lucie. They sat before the fire on a bench and looked sideways at one another. Mrs. Tiggy-winkle's hand, holding the tea-cup, was very very brown, and very very wrinkly with the soap-suds; and all through her gown and her cap, there were HAIRPINS sticking wrong end out; so that Lucie didn't like to sit too near her.

Peter lost one of his shoes among the cabbages, and the other shoe amongst the potatoes.

One place suits on person, another place suits another person. For my part, I prefer to live in the country, like Timmy Willie.

So much perfection argues rottenness somewhere.

It is said that the effect of eating too much lettuce is 'soporific'.

Once upon a time there were three kittens, and their names were Mitten, Tom Kitten, and Moppet. They had dear little fur coats of their own; and they tumbled about the doorstep and played in the dust.

I hold that a strongly marked personality can influence descendants for generations.

Believe there is a great power silently working all things for good, behave yourself and never mind the rest.

Most people, after one success, are so cringingly afraid of doing less well that they rub all the edge off their subsequent work.

Then all at once there was a flutterment and a scufflement and a loud "Squeak!"

The other squirrels scuttered away into the bushes.

When they came back very cautiously, peeping round the tree--there was Old Brown sitting on his door-step, quite still, with his eyes closed, as if nothing had happened.

But Nutkin was in his waistcoat pocket!

This looks like the end of the story; but it isn't.

What we call the highest and the lowest in nature are both equally perfect. A willow bush is as beautiful as the human form divine.

I am aware these little books don't last long even if they are a success.

Κάθε άνθρωπος βολεύεται στον τόπο που του ταιριάζει."
"One place suits one person, another place suits another person.

Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality.

It sometimes happens that the town child is more alive to the fresh beauty of the country than a child who is country born. My brother and I were born in London ... but our descent, our interest and our joy were in the north country'.
Quoted in The Tale of Beatrix Potter a Biography by Margaret Lane, First Edition p 32-33

I think prejudice and tradition count for three-quarters in matters of religion.

There's something delicious about writing those first few words of a story. You can never quite tell where they will take you. Mine took me here, where I belong.

I think if she lived in A little shoe-house That little old woman was Surely a mouse!

The shorter and the plainer the better.

I am sorry to say that Peter was not very well during the evening.
His mother put him to bed, and made some camomile tea; and she gave a dose of it to Peter!
'One table-spoonful to be taken at bed-time.'
But Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail had bread and milk and blackberries for supper.

Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were
Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter.

Peter was not very well during the evening. His mother put him to bed, and made some chamomile tea: One table-spoonful to be taken at bedtime.

If I have done anything, even a little, to help small children enjoy honest, simple pleasures, I have done a bit of good.

Thank God I have the seeing eye, that is to say, as I lie in bed I can walk step by step on the fells and rough land seeing every stone and flower and patch of bog and cotton pass where my old legs will never take me again.

Don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor.

We cannot stay home all our lives, we must present ourselves to the world and we must look upon it as an adventure.

For behind the wooden wainscots of all the old houses in Gloucester, there are little mouse staircases and secret trap-doors; and the mice run from house to house through those long narrow passages; they can run all over the town without going into the streets.

Here comes Peter Cottontail right down the bunny trail ...

I cannot rest, I must draw, however poor the result, and when I have a bad time come over me it is a stronger desire than ever.

The place is changed now, and many familiar faces are gone, but the greatest change is myself. I was a child then, I had no idea what the world would be like. I wished to trust myself on the waters and the sea. Everything was romantic in my imagination. The woods were peopled by the mysterious good folk. The Lords and Ladies of the last century walked with me along the overgrown paths, and picked the old fashioned flowers among the box and rose hedges of the garden.

Sunday, January 27, 1884.
There was another story in the paper a week or so since. A gentleman had a favourite cat whom he taught to sit at the dinner table where it behaved very well. He was in the habit of putting any scraps he left onto the cat's plate. One day puss did not take his place punctually, but presently appeared with two mice, one of which it placed on its master's plate, the other on its own.

Thank goodness my education was neglected.

I do so hate finishing books. I would like to go on with them for years.