Top 35 Mary Jo Putney Quotes (2025 Update)

1. “Competence is a great creator of confidence.”

— Mary Jo Putney

2. “If death is inevitable, one should try to die well.”

— Mary Jo Putney

3. “What one loves in childhood stays in the heart forever.”

— Mary Jo Putney

Featured in: Quotes About Childhood

4. “I love Christmas. A time to slow down and enjoy life and be with my family and friends. In busy years, it keeps me sane. In bad years, it makes me feel whole again.”

— Mary Jo Putney

5. “Once you can fake sincerity, you can fake anything.”

— Mary Jo Putney

6. “You don’t have to be crazy to be a writer, but it certainly does help.”

— Mary Jo Putney

7. “Disdain for authority is the bedrock of my character.”

— Mary Jo Putney

8. “Samuel Johnson said a second marriage is the triumph of hope over experience,” Kirkland said.”

— Mary Jo Putney

9. “Europeans condemned Chinese foot binding, but any society that had invented the corset had a lot to answer for.”

— Mary Jo Putney

10. “Children often sang, adults seldom. At what age did the singing stop?”

— Mary Jo Putney

11. “A witty vicar once said that a good marriage is like a pair of scissors with the couple inseparable joined, often moving in opposite directions, yet always destroying anyone who comes between them. The trick is for the blades to learn to work smoothly together, so as not to cut each other.”

— Mary Jo Putney

12. “Enigmatic – the quality of keeping silent and making people wonder if one is stupid rather than opening one’s mouth and removing all doubt.”

— Mary Jo Putney

13. “Parents and children were put on earth to give each other grief. You were my punishment for how I behaved to my own father. And I’ll have my revenge when you have children of your own.”

— Mary Jo Putney

14. “Principles are sometimes an unaffordable luxury.”

— Mary Jo Putney

15. “I think that marriage is always the triumph of hope over fear.”

— Mary Jo Putney

16. “Like cats and ice cream, showers were among life’s simple, uncomplicated pleasures.”

— Mary Jo Putney

17. “Not a savage – a barbarian. Savages know nothing of civilization. We barbarians know what civilization is, though we may have a low opinion of it.” Peregrine’s tone was distinctly ironic.”

— Mary Jo Putney

18. “There was deep truth in the fact that men spoke of Holy Mother Church, for the Church was the force of civilization and compassion among nations, just as women brought mercy and gentleness to men.”

— Mary Jo Putney

19. “She always imagined the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and Blessed Mother as points of light in the center of her heart, and as she prayed, the light expanded, flowing through her body and soul, smoothing away knots of guilt and sorrow and fear until her whole being glowed with harmony.”

— Mary Jo Putney

20. “But why, she thought wryly, did a man seem more attractive as he became less available? How humbling to think one had so much in common with a cow stretching its neck through a gate for better grass.”

— Mary Jo Putney

21. “Gentlemen do not work. Since I do not work, therefore I must be a gentleman.”

— Mary Jo Putney

22. “I don’t usually look back. When I make foolish decisions, I file the consequences under lessons learned and tell myself not to be stupid in the same way again.”

— Mary Jo Putney

23. “But gratitude would not have me love you as I do. Love was inspired by what you are – the good, the bad, and even the foolish, which is what you’re being right now.”

— Mary Jo Putney

24. “Jack was unexpectedly moved when he swore allegiance to the king and country. He had served both for years, could easily have laid down his life. Yet it was different to pledge his loyalty and best efforts toward governing this nation. Dying was easier than making good laws.”

— Mary Jo Putney

25. “Your precocity delighted everyone who met you even when you were behaving like a limb of Satan.”

— Mary Jo Putney

26. “Life is a good deal more comfortable if one doesn’t expect it to be fair.”

— Mary Jo Putney

27. “Softly he continued, “You need to ask God for forgiveness. That’s His job, isn’t it? To forgive imperfect humankind. You are quick to forgive others and offer them kindness. Do the same for yourself.”

— Mary Jo Putney

28. “Because you loved, you promised. You must try harder to keep that promise.”

— Mary Jo Putney

29. “Michael is easier to understand – he had to believe in Caroline. To betray a friend was despicable – to acknowledge that he had done so for a woman who was utterly unworthy.”

— Mary Jo Putney

30. “Isn’t a mistress supposed to care about her lover?” she asked softly. Their glances met, and Nicholas felt something shift deep inside him, creating a moment of strange vulnerability. This woman could hurt him badly if he wasn’t careful.”

— Mary Jo Putney

31. “What a pity that men couldn’t find such satisfactions without killing so many of their fellows.”

— Mary Jo Putney

32. “If I have an ambition, it’s to leave the world a little better than I found it.”

— Mary Jo Putney

33. “But she had never known that a man could want a woman and not take her because he did care. There was something very fragile and precious in the idea, though she didn’t really understand it. Maybe someday she would.”

— Mary Jo Putney

34. “Small pleasures are the best because they’re everywhere. Anyone who needs grand spectacles is destined to be disappointed much of the time.”

— Mary Jo Putney

35. “I love you,” he gasped. “For always.” “And I love you,” she whispered as tears filled her eyes. He rolled on his side and drew her close, his arms sheltering against the storm that pounded on London. The sky itself wept because they loved each other, and it wasn’t enough. As.”

— Mary Jo Putney