Nellie Bly > Quotes

“Energy rightly applied and directed will accomplish anything.”
― Nellie Bly

“I said I could and I would. And I did.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“It is only after one is in trouble that one realizes how little sympathy and kindness there are in the world.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“I always liked fog, it lends such a soft, beautifying light to things that otherwise in the broad glare of day would be rude and commonplace.”
― Nellie Bly

“While I live I hope.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“To have a good brain the stomach must be cared for.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“I would like the expert physicians who are condemning me for my action, which has proven their ability, to take a perfectly sane and healthy woman, shut her up and make her sit from 6 A. M. until 8 P. M. on straight-back benches, do not allow her to talk or move during these hours, give her no reading and let her know nothing of the world or its doings, give her bad food and harsh treatment, and see how long it will take to make her insane. Two months would make her a mental and physical wreck.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“I've always had the feeling that nothing is impossible is one applies a certain amount of energy in the right direction. If you want to do it, you can do it.”
― Nellie Bly

“Nonsense! If you want to do it, you can do it. The question is, do you want to do it?”
― Nellie Bly, Around the World in Seventy-Two Days

“The insane asylum on Blackwell's Island is a human rat-trap. It is easy to get in, but once there it is impossible to get out.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“Compare this with a criminal, who is given every chance to prove his innocence. Who would not rather be a murderer and take the chance for life than be declared insane, without hope of escape?”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“A stick beats more ugliness into a person than it ever beats out.”
― Nellie Bly

“I felt sure now that no doctor could tell whether people were insane or not, so long as the case was not violent. Later”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“A pretty young Hebrew woman spoke so little English I could not get her story except as told by the nurses. They said her name is Sarah Fishbaum, and that her husband put her in the asylum because she had a fondness for other men than himself.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“That was the greatest night of my existence. For a few hours I stood face to face with “self!” I”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“The attendants seemed to find amusement and pleasure in exciting the violent patients to do their worst.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“I have watched patients stand and gaze longingly toward the city they in all likelihood will never enter again. It means liberty and life; it seems so near, and yet heaven is not further from hell.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“After this, I began to have a smaller regard for the ability of doctors than I ever had before, and a greater one for myself. I felt sure now that no doctor could tell whether people were insane or not, so long as the case was not violent.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“I always have a comfortable feeling that nothing is impossible if one applies a certain amount of energy in the right direction. When I want things done, which is always at the last moment, and I am met with such an answer: "It's too late. I hardly think it can be done;" I simply say:

"Nonsense! If you want to do it, you can do it. The question is, do you want to do it?”
― Nellie Bly, Around the World in 72 Days

“It will be seen that if one is traveling simply for the sake of traveling and not for the purpose of impressing one's fellow passengers, the problem of baggage becomes a very simple one.”
― Nellie Bly, Around the World in 72 Days

“But here was a woman taken without her own consent from the free world to an asylum and there given no chance to prove her sanity. Confined most probably for life behind asylum bars, without even being told in her language the why and wherefore. Compare this with a criminal, who is given every chance to prove his innocence. Who would not rather be a murderer and take the chance for life than be declared insane, without hope of escape?”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“What is this place?” I asked of the man, who had his fingers sunk into the flesh of my arm. “Blackwell’s Island, an insane place, where you’ll never get out of”.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“But here let me say one thing: From the moment, I entered the insane ward on the Island, I made no attempt to keep up the assumed role of insanity. I talked and acted just as I do in ordinary life. Yet strange to say, the more sanely I talked and acted the crazier I was thought to be by all except one physician, whose kindness and gentle ways I shall not soon forget.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“CHAPTER V. PRONOUNCED INSANE”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“Dress is a great weapon in the hands of a woman if rightly applied. It is a weapon men lack, so women should make the most of it.”
― Nellie Bly, Around the World in Eighty Days

“As I passed a low pavilion, where a crowd of helpless lunatics were confined, I read a motto on the wall, “While I live I hope”. The absurdity of it struck me forcibly. I would have liked to put above the gates that open to the asylum, “He who enters here leaveth hope behind”.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“The turned-down pages of my life were turned up, and the past was present.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“Do you know that only insane people are sent to this pavilion?” I asked. “Yes, I know; but I am unable to do anything. The doctors refuse to listen to me, and it is useless to say anything to the nurses”.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“SINCE my experiences in Blackwell’s Island Insane Asylum were published in the World I have received hundreds of letters in regard to it. The edition containing my story long since ran out, and I have been prevailed upon to allow it to be published in book form, to satisfy the hundreds who are yet asking for copies. I am happy to be able to state as a result of my visit to the asylum and the exposures consequent thereon, that the City of New York has appropriated $1,000,000 more per annum than ever before for the care of the insane. So, I have at least the satisfaction of knowing that the poor unfortunates will be the better cared for because of my work.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House

“A fire is not improbable, but one of the most likely occurrences. Should the building burn, the jailers or nurses would never think of releasing their crazy patients. This I can prove to you later when I come to tell of their cruel treatment of the poor things intrusted to their care. As I say, in case of fire, not a dozen women could escape. Everyone would be left to roast to death. Even if the nurses were kind, which they are not, it would require more presence of mind than women of their class possess to risk the flames and their own lives while they unlocked the hundred doors for the insane prisoners. Unless there is a change there will someday be a tale of horror never equaled.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House