“Oh, child,' the Father exclaimed, 'whether it's St Martha or that Mary that made the bitter choice, not one of them ever looked more virtuous than you. Why aren't ye born to be a good man's help-meet?” — Ford Madox Ford Copy Share Image
New York is large, glamorous, easy-going, kindly and incurious, but above all it is a crucible - because it is large enough to be… — Ford Madox Ford Copy Share Image
“You can't kill a minuet de la coeur. You may shut up the music book... but surely the minuet-- the minuet itself is dancing… — Ford Madox Ford Copy Share Image
“You see in such a world as this, an idealist -or perhaps it's only a sentimentalist-must be stoned to death. He makes the others… — Ford Madox Ford Copy Share Image
“A gentleman in those days consulted his heirs about tree planting. Should you plant a group of copper beeches against a group of white maples over against the ha-ha a quarter of a mile from the house so that the contrast seen from the ball-room windows should be agreeable—in thirty years’ time? In those days thought, in families, went in… — Ford Madox Ford Copy Share
“How was it possible that the most honourable man she knew should be so overwhelmed by foul and baseless rumours? It made you suspect… — Ford Madox Ford Copy Share Image
It is not merely that people must die and people must suffer, if not here, then there. But what is dreadful is that the… — Ford Madox Ford Copy Share Image
“But upon my word, I don't know how we put in our time. How does one put in one's time? How is it possible… — Ford Madox Ford Copy Share Image
In every man there are two minds that work side by side, the one checking the other; thus emotion stands against reason, intellect corrects… — Ford Madox Ford Copy Share Image
“No, by God, it is false! It wasn't a minuet that we stepped; it was a prison - a prison full of screaming hysterics,… — Ford Madox Ford Copy Share Image
Damn it all, it's the first duty of a soldier - it's the first duty of all Englishmen - to be able to tell… — Ford Madox Ford Copy Share Image
“Yes, society must go on; it must breed, like rabbits. That is what we are here for. But then, I don't like society—much.” — Ford Madox Ford Copy Share Image
“The signal for the train's departure was a very bright red; that is about as passionate a statement as I can get into that… — Ford Madox Ford Copy Share Image
