Beatrix Potter > Quotes

“There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they'll take you.”
― Beatrix Potter

“Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were--Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter. ”
― Beatrix Potter

“I hold that a strongly marked personality can influence descendants for generations.”
― Beatrix Potter

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

“Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality.”
― Beatrix Potter

“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.”
― Beatrix Potter

“Tuesday, November 17th. 1896

...

I remember I used to half believe and wholly play with fairies when I was a child. What heaven can be more real than to retain the spirit-world of childhood, tempered and balanced by knowledge and common-sense.”
― Beatrix Potter, The Journal of Beatrix Potter from 1881-1897

“All outward forms of religion are almost useless, and are the causes of endless strife. . . . Believe there is a great power silently working all things for good, behave yourself and never mind the rest.”
― Beatrix Potter, Merry Christmas, Peter Rabbit!

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

“Thank goodness my education was neglected.”
― Beatrix Potter

“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.”
― Beatrix Potter, The Journal of Beatrix Potter from 1881-1897

“What heaven can be more real than to retain the spirit-world of childhood?”
― Beatrix Potter

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

“It is said that the effect of eating too much lettuce is 'soporific'.”
― Beatrix Potter, The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies

“I hold an old-fashioned notion that a happy marriage is the crown of a woman’s life.”
― Beatrix Potter

“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.”
― Beatrix Potter, Beatrix Potter's Journal

“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.”
― Beatrix Potter

“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.”
― Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Peter Rabbit

“This is a fierce bad rabbit;
look at his savage whiskers,
and his claws and his turned-up tail.”
― Beatrix Potter

“With opportunity the world is very interesting.”
― Beatrix Potter

“In the time of swords and periwigs and full-skirted coats with flowered lappets - when gentlemen wore ruffles, and gold-laced waistcoats of paduasoy and taffeta - there lived a tailor in Gloucester.”
― Beatrix Potter, The Tailor of Gloucester

“I fear that we shall be obliged to leave this pudding”
― Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Samuel Whiskers, or The Roly-Poly Pudding

“One place suits on person, another place suits another person. For my part, I prefer to live in the country, like Timmy Willie.”
― Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse

“In Summer there were white and damask roses, and the smell of thyme and musk. In Spring there were green gooseberries and throstles [thrush], and the flowers they call ceninen [daffodils]. And leeks and cabbages also grew in that garden; and between long straight alleys, and apple-trained espaliers, there were beds of strawberries, and mint, and sage.”
― Beatrix Potter

“I am aware these little books don't last long even if they are a success.”
― Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Peter Rabbit

“I remember every stone, every tree, the scent of heather... Even when the thunder growled in the distance, and the wind swept up the valley in fitful gusts, oh, it was beautiful, home sweet home.”
― Beatrix Potter

“No more twist!”
― Beatrix Potter, The Tailor of Gloucester

“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.”
― Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Peter Rabbit

“Peter lost one of his shoes among the cabbages, and the other shoe amongst the potatoes.”
― Beatrix Potter

“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”
― Beatrix Potter