In the matter of furnishing, I find a certain absence of ugliness far worse than ugliness.
—Colette (1873–1954) French Novelist, Performer
Charity begins at home.
—Common Proverb
Our home joys are the most delightful earth affords, and the joy of parents in their children is the most holy joy of humanity. It makes their hearts pure and good, it lifts men up to their Father in heaven.
—Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746–1827) Swiss Educator
When a writer knows home in his heart, his heart must remain subtly apart from it. He must always be a stranger to the place he loves, and its people.
—William Morris (1834–96) British Designer, Craftsman, Poet, Writer
Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.
—Matsuo Basho (1644–94) Japanese Poet
East, west, home’s best.
—Common Proverb
There’s no place like home.
—Common Proverb
Cooking: An art, a noble science; cooks are gentlemen.
—Richard Burton (1925–84) Welsh Actor
Eighty per cent of our criminals come from unsympathetic homes.
—Hans Christian Andersen (1805–75) Danish Author, Poet, Short Story Writer
The home is the basis of a righteous life and no other instrumentality can take its place nor fulfill its essential functions.
—David O. McKay (1873–1970) American Mormon Religious Leader
If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.
—William Morris (1834–96) British Designer, Craftsman, Poet, Writer
A woman’s place is in the home.
—Common Proverb
A man is always nearest to his good when at home, and farthest from it when away.
—Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819–81) American Editor, Novelist
Home is a place not only of strong affections, but of entire unreserved; it is life’s undress rehearsal, its backroom, its dressing room, from which we go forth to more careful and guarded intercourse, leaving behind us much debris of cast-off and everyday clothing.
—Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–96) American Abolitionist, Author
Home interprets heaven. Home is heaven for beginners.
—Charles Henry Parkhurst (1842–1933) American Clergyman, Civic Reformer
Stint yourself, as you think good, in other things; but don’t scruple freedom in brightening home. Gay furniture and a brilliant garden are a sight day by day, and make life blither.
—Sir Thomas Buxton, 1st Baronet (1786–1845) English Politician, Social Reformer
America’s future will be determined by the home and the school. The child becomes largely what it is taught, hence we must watch what we teach it, how we live before it.
—Jane Addams (1860–1935) American Social Reformer, Feminist
My home is not a place, it is people.
—Lois McMaster Bujold (b.1949) American Novelist, Writer
There are things you just can’t do in life. You can’t beat the phone company, you can’t make a waiter see you until he’s ready to see you, and you can’t go home again.
—Bill Bryson (1951–95) American Humorist, Author, Educator
Much of the modern resistance to chastity comes from men’s belief that they “own” their bodies — those vast and perilous estates, pulsating with the energy that made the worlds, in which they find themselves without their consent and from which they are ejected at the pleasure of Another!
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish-born British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
Expanding and experiencing the mind is like coming home, while the former ‘home’ becomes more and more unimportant.
—Hans Taeger
A house that does not have one worn, comfy chair in it is soulless.
—May Sarton (1912–95) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Novelist
An Englishman’s home is his castle.
—Common Proverb
Nothing annoys a woman more than to have company drop in unexpectedly and find the house looking as it usually does.
—Frank Lane (1896–1981) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
There is this difference between happiness and wisdom, that he that thinks himself the happiest man really is so; but he that thinks himself the wisest is generally the greatest fool.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
No worldly success can compensate for failure in the home.
—David O. McKay (1873–1970) American Mormon Religious Leader
Home is a shelter from storms — all sorts of storms.
—William Bennett (b.1943) American Politician, Political Theorist, Government Official
For there we loved, and where we love is home,
Home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
There is no happiness in life, and there is no misery, like that growing out of the dispositions which consecrate or desecrate a home.
—Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814–80) American Preacher, Poet
I hate housework! You make the beds, you do the dishes — and six months later you have to start all over again.
—Joan Rivers (1933–2014) American Comedienne, Writer
Many a man who pays rent all his life owns his own home; and many a family has successfully saved for a home only to find itself at last with nothing but a house.
—Bruce Fairchild Barton (1886–1967) American Author, Advertising Executive, Politician