Elizabeth Gaskell

“He had grown accustomed to his wife by this time, and regarded silence on his own part as a great preservative against…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“They had grown up together from childhood, and all along Edith had been remarked upon by every one, except Margaret, for her…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“Sometimes when I've thought o' my life, and the little pleasure I've had in it, I've believed that, maybe, I was one…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“If the world was full of perplexing problems she would trust, and only ask to see the one step needful for the…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“All the morning since he got up he had been trying to fight through his duties—leaning against a hope—a hope that first…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“...the prospect of soon losing her companion seemed to give force to every sweet quality and charm which Edith possessed.”

— Elizabeth Gaskell

But Mr. Hale resolved that he would not be disturbed by any such nonsensical idea; so he lay awake, determining not to…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

Every mile was redolent of associations, which she would not have missed for the world, but each of which made her cry…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

Mr. Thornton felt that in this influx no one was speaking to Margaret, and was restless under this apparent neglect. But he…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

For all his pain, he longed to see the author of it. Although he hated Margaret at times, when he thought of…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

She thought in would be awkward for both to be brought into conscious collision; and fancied that, from her being on a…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“No, its the poor I tell you, and the poor only, as does such things for the poor. Don't think to come…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“He knew how she would love. He had not loved her without gaining that instinctive knowledge of what capabilities were in her.…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“She never called her son by any name but John; 'love,' and 'dear,' and such like terms, were reserved for Fanny. But…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

We do not look for reason for logic in the passionate entreaties of those who are sick unto death; we are stung…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“...Tell me what he was like as a baby." "Why, Margaret, you must not be hurt, but he was much prettier than…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“The distant sea, lapping the sandy shore with measured sound; the nearer cries of the donkey-boys; the unusual scenes moving before her…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“I just wished to know if you mean to marry the girl. Spite of what you said of her lightness, I ha'…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“Margaret could not help her looks; but the short curled upper lip, the round, massive up-turned chin, the manner of carrying her…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“Margaret's attention was thus called to her host; his whole manner as master of the house, and entertainer of his friends, was…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“... You're one of th'Union, Job?' 'Ay! I'm one, sure enough; but I'm but a sleeping partner in the concern. I were…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“You can never work facts as you would fixed quantities, and say, given two facts, and the product is so and so.…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“She disliked him more for having mastered her inner will. How dared he say that he would love her still, even though…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

Mr. Thornton," said Margaret, shaking all over with her passion, "go down this instant, if you are not a coward. Go down…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

Margaret found that the indifferent, careless conversations of one who, however kind, was not too warm and anxious a sympathizer, did her…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

Don't think to come over me with th' old tale, that the rich know nothing of the trials of the poor; I…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

Margaret the Churchwoman, her father the Dissenter, Higgins the Infidel, knelt down together. It did them no harm.

— Elizabeth Gaskell

How am I to dress up in my finery, and go off and away to smart parties, after the sorrow I have…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“A little credulity helps one on through life very smoothly — better than always doubting and doubting and seeing difficulties and disagreeables…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

I am the mother that bore you, and your sorrow is my agony; and if you don't hate her, i do' Then,…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“Ay! but mother's words are scarce, and weigh heavy. Father's liker me, and we talk a deal o' rubble; but mother's words…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“Tobacco and drink deaden the pangs of hunger, and make one forget the miserable home, the desolate future. They”

— Elizabeth Gaskell

And so she shuddered away from the threat of his enduring love. What did he mean? Had she not the power to…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

He could not - say rather, he would not - deny himself the chance of the pleasure of seeing Margaret. He had…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“All sorts of thoughts cross one's mind—it depends upon whether one gives them harbour and encouragement”

— Elizabeth Gaskell

If you dare to injure her in the least, I will await you where no policeman can step in between. And God…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“The wife slept on, only roused by the cry of her child now and then, which seemed to have power over her,…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“..bid her beware of French principles, which had led the French to cut off their king’s and queen’s heads.”

— Elizabeth Gaskell

If they came sorrowing, and wanting sympathy in a complicated trouble like the present, then they would be felt as a shadow…

— Elizabeth Gaskell

“It is the first changes among familiar things that make such a mystery of time to the young, afterwards we lose the…

— Elizabeth Gaskell