Elizabeth Gaskell Quotes

139 quotes in 2187 categories

• But Mr. Hale resolved that he would not be disturbed by any such nonsensical idea; so he lay awake, determining not to think about it.
• A little credulity helps one on through life very smoothly.
• I take it that 'gentleman' is a term that only describes a person in his relation to others; but when we speak of him as…
• Really it is very wholesome exercise, this trying to make one's words represent one's thoughts, instead of merely looking to their effect on others.
• Trust a girl of sixteen for knowing well if she is pretty; concerning her plainness she may be ignorant.
• Anticipation was the soul of enjoyment.
• To be sure a stepmother to a girl is a different thing to a second wife to a man!
• Were all men equal to-night, some would get the start by rising an hour earlier to-morrow.
• I look at [books] as a child looks at cakes - with glittering eyes and a watering mouth, imagining the pleasure that awaits him.
• He had not an ounce of superfluous flesh on his bones, and leanness goes a great way towards gentility.
• A man is so in the way in the house.
• The cloud never comes from the quarter of the horizon from which we watch for it.
• How easy it is to judge rightly after one sees what evil comes from judging wrongly!
• People may flatter themselves just as much by thinking that their faults are always present to other people's minds, as if they believe that the…
• Sometimes one likes foolish people for their folly, better than wise people for their wisdom.
• My heart burnt within me with indignation and grief; we could think of nothing else. All night long we had only snatches of sleep, waking…
• A wise parent humors the desire for independent action, so as to become the friend and advisor when his absolute rule shall cease.
• I'll not listen to reason... reason always means what someone else has got to say.
• But suppose it was truth double strong, it were no truth to me if I couldna take it in. I daresay there's truth in yon…
• Loyalty and obedience to wisdom and justice are fine; but it is still finer to defy arbitrary power, unjustly and cruelly used--not on behalf of…

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