# Quote — William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair

> She had been a gracious friend to Miss Briggs, the companion, also; and had secured the latter’s good-will by a number of those attentions and promises, which cost so little in the making, and are yet so valuable and agreeable to the recipient. Indeed every good economist and manager of a household must know how cheap and yet how amiable these professions are, and what a flavour they give to the most homely dish in life. Who was the blundering idiot who said that “fine words butter no parsnips”? Half the parsnips of society are served and rendered palatable with no other sauce. As the immortal Alexis Soyer can make more delicious soup for a half-penny than an ignorant cook can concoct with pounds of vegetables and meat, so a skilful artist will make a few simple and pleasing phrases go farther than ever so much substantial benefit-stock in the hands of a mere bungler. Nay, we know that substantial benefits often sicken some stomachs; whereas, most will digest any amount of fine words, and be always eager for more of the same food.

- Author: [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray.md)
- Book: [Vanity Fair](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-fair.md)
- Page: 179
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Vanity_Fair_(novel)#Quotes) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-fair/she-had-been

## More from this book

> Like many wealthy people, it was Miss Crawley’s habit to accept as much service as she could get from her inferiors; and good-naturedly to take leave of them when she no longer found them useful. Gratitude among certain rich folks is scarcely natural or to be thought of. They take needy people’s services as their due. Nor have you, O poor parasite and humble hanger-on, much reason to complain! Your friendship for Dives is about as sincere as the return which it usually gets. It is money you love, and not the man; and were Croesus and his footman to change places, you know, you poor rogue, who would have the benefit of your allegiance.

p. 135 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-fair/like-many-wealthy.md)

> Them’s my sentiments.

p. 198 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-fair/thems-my-sentiments.md)

> Whenever he met a great man he grovelled before him, and my-lorded him as only a free-born Briton can do.

p. 125 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-fair/whenever-he-met.md)