National Frankenstein Day is an unofficial holiday celebrated annually on Aug. 30 — marked to honor author Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley on her birth anniversary. The English novelist is most famous for her novel “Frankenstein,” which was written in 1816 and lauded as one of the earliest examples of science-fiction literature.

Frankenstein recounts the story of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who experiments with the creation of a human-like creature.

Here are some quotes from Mary Shelly to share on this day:

1. “Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.”

2. “Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it.”

3. “No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks.”

4. “There is something at work in my soul, which I do not understand.” - From Frankenstein

5. “How dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to be greater than his nature will allow.” - From Frankenstein

6. “There is love in me the likes of which you've never seen. There is rage in me the likes of which should never escape. If I am not satisfied in the one, I will indulge the other.” - From Frankenstein

7. “Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of void but out of chaos.”

8. “When falsehood can look so like the truth, who can assure themselves of certain happiness?” - From Frankenstein

9. “Satan has his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and detested.” - From Frankenstein

10. “With how many things are we on the brink of becoming acquainted, if cowardice or carelessness did not restrain our inquiries.” - From Frankenstein

Franksenstein
Covered monster laying before Kenneth Branagh in a scene from the film 'Frankenstein', 1994. Getty Images/TriStar
RELATED STORIES