--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Catherine usually sat by me, but to- day…" description: "\"“Catherine usually sat by me, but to- day she stole nearer to Hareton; and I presently saw she would have no more discretion in her friendship than she..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac5/emily-bronte-574_catherine_catherine-usually-sat-by-me-but-to-day-s_2904490.png" --- # Catherine usually sat by me, but to- day she stole nearer… ![“Catherine usually sat by me, but to- day she stole nearer to Hareton; and I presently saw she would have no more discretion in her friendship than she had in her hostility.” quote by Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac5/emily-bronte-574_catherine_catherine-usually-sat-by-me-but-to-day-s_2904490.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac5/emily-bronte-574_catherine_catherine-usually-sat-by-me-but-to-day-s_2904490.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac5/emily-bronte-574_catherine_catherine-usually-sat-by-me-but-to-day-s_2904490.png) > ““Catherine usually sat by me, but to- day she stole nearer to Hareton; and I presently saw she would have no more discretion in her friendship than she had in her hostility.”” [Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Catherine’s shifting loyalties show how personal relationships can become entangled with rivalry and desire. **In simple terms:** Friendship and hostility can blur. Key Takeaway Watch for mixed motives in close ties. Themes loyalty conflict relationships Mood tension melancholy Type literary character study When to use this quote - family drama - romantic rivalry - friendship strain Key Concepts social dynamics emotional ambiguity Questions to Reflect On - How do you tell if someone’s support is sincere? - What drives a person to switch sides? A Different Perspective People may act out of spite rather than genuine care. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary. Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He’s always, always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/my-love-for-heathcliff-resembles-the-eternal-rocks-beneath-a-source-3/) [Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“All seems smooth and easy: where is the obstacle?' ' Here! and here! ' replied Catherine, striking one hand on her forehead, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/all-seems-smooth-and-easy-where-is-the-obstacle-here-and-here-replied/) [Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“Their eyes are precisely similar, and they are those of Catherine Earnshaw.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/their-eyes-are-precisely-similar-and-they-are-those-of-catherine/) [Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“I wish you had sincerity enough to tell me whether Catherine would suffer greatly from his loss: the fear that she would restrains me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/i-wish-you-had-sincerity-enough-to-tell-me-whether-catherine-would/) [Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living. You said I killed you--haunt me then. The murdered do haunt their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/catherine-earnshaw-may-you-not-rest-as-long-as-i-am-living-you-said-i/) [Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“Nelly, nunca tens sonhos esquisitos? - perguntou, após uns momentos de reflexão. - Tenho, às vezes. - Também eu. Sonhos que me ficaram gravados…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/nelly-nunca-tens-sonhos-esquisitos-perguntou-ap-s-uns-momentos-de/) [Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“But I begin to fancy you don't like me. How strange! I thought, though everybody hated and despised each other, they could not avoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/but-i-begin-to-fancy-you-don-t-like-me-how-strange-i-thought-though/) [Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [Margaret Thatcher had more impact on the world than any woman ruler since Catherine the Great of Russia. Not only did she turn around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/margaret-thatcher-had-more-impact-on-the-world-than-any-woman-ruler/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) > [“When he finally broke off the kiss and moved his lips to her neck, then her breast again, sucking her nipples back to hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/when-he-finally-broke-off-the-kiss-and-moved-his-lips-to-her-neck/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“I walked towards her. Jean-Claude grabbed my arm. "Do not harm her, Anita. She is under our protection." "I swear to you that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-walked-towards-her-jean-claude-grabbed-my-arm-do-not-harm-her-anita/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“She was just a simple, honest woman standing in the ruin of a late winter garden, waiting for the spring. “Catherine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-goolrick/she-was-just-a-simple-honest-woman-standing-in-the-ruin-of-a-late/) [Robert Goolrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-goolrick/) > [“You didn’t slay a werewolf,” I breathed before repeating the words louder. “You did not slay a werewolf, Thaddeus.” “Oh, but I did. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/you-didn-t-slay-a-werewolf-i-breathed-before-repeating-the-words/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Acting is about giving yourself away, like the U2 song 'With or Without You.' You just don't stay behind a character and make people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/acting-is-about-giving-yourself-away-like-the-u2-song-with-or-without/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [“I look into her excited eyes, and my mind finally acknowledges what my heart has known all along as the truth—I’m hers. I belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-asher/i-look-into-her-excited-eyes-and-my-mind-finally-acknowledges-what-my/) [Mia Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-asher/) > [“Defiance, Catherine, is a gift of God, who is superior to nature. When nature comes to get you, honor God by treating it, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/defiance-catherine-is-a-gift-of-god-who-is-superior-to-nature-when/) [Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/) ## More by Emily Brontë > [Honest people don't hide their deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/honest-people-don-t-hide-their-deeds/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [He is more myself than I am. Whatever our two souls are made of, his and mine are the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/he-is-more-myself-than-i-am-whatever-our-two-souls-are-made-of-his/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [I shall smile when wreaths of snow Blossom where the rose should grow; I shall sing when night's decay Ushers in a drearier day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/i-shall-smile-when-wreaths-of-snow-blossom-where-the-rose-should-grow/) [Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [how cruel, your veins are full of ice-water and mine are boiling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/how-cruel-your-veins-are-full-of-ice-water-and-mine-are-boiling/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods. Time will changeit,I'mwellaware, aswinterchangesthetrees. My Love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneatha…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/my-love-for-linton-is-like-the-foliage-in-the-woods-time-will/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“I wish I were a girl again, half savage and hardy, and free; and laughing at injuries, not maddening under them! Why am I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/i-wish-i-were-a-girl-again-half-savage-and-hardy-and-free-and/) [Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [The entire world is a collection of memoranda that she did exist, and that I have lost her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/the-entire-world-is-a-collection-of-memoranda-that-she-did-exist-and/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“Papa talks enough of my defects, and shows enough scorn of me, to make it natural I should doubt myself. I doubt whether I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/papa-talks-enough-of-my-defects-and-shows-enough-scorn-of-me-to-make/) [Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“Mama never told me I had a father.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/mama-never-told-me-i-had-a-father/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [The intense horror of nightmare came over me: I tried to draw back my arm, but the hand clung to it, and a most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/the-intense-horror-of-nightmare-came-over-me-i-tried-to-draw-back-my/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“It is not in him to be loved like me: how can she love in him what he has not?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/it-is-not-in-him-to-be-loved-like-me-how-can-she-love-in-him-what-he/) [Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [I have lost the faculty of enjoying their destruction, and I am too idle to destroy for nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/i-have-lost-the-faculty-of-enjoying-their-destruction-and-i-am-too/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/my-love-for-heathcliff-resembles-the-eternal-rocks-beneath-a-source/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [Tis moonlight, summer moonlight, All soft and still and fair; The solemn hour of midnight Breathes sweet thoughts everywhere, But most where trees are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/tis-moonlight-summer-moonlight-all-soft-and-still-and-fair-the-solemn/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“It expressed, plainer than words could do, the intense anguish at having made himself the instrument of thwarting his own revenge. Had it been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/it-expressed-plainer-than-words-could-do-the-intense-anguish-at/) [Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) [Explore all 400 Emily Brontë quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) ## More Catherine quotes > [“Defiance, Catherine, is a gift of God, who is superior to nature. When nature comes to get you, honor God by treating it, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/defiance-catherine-is-a-gift-of-god-who-is-superior-to-nature-when/) [Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/) > [“I look into her excited eyes, and my mind finally acknowledges what my heart has known all along as the truth—I’m hers. I belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-asher/i-look-into-her-excited-eyes-and-my-mind-finally-acknowledges-what-my/) [Mia Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-asher/) > [Acting is about giving yourself away, like the U2 song 'With or Without You.' You just don't stay behind a character and make people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/acting-is-about-giving-yourself-away-like-the-u2-song-with-or-without/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [“You didn’t slay a werewolf,” I breathed before repeating the words louder. “You did not slay a werewolf, Thaddeus.” “Oh, but I did. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/you-didn-t-slay-a-werewolf-i-breathed-before-repeating-the-words/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“She was just a simple, honest woman standing in the ruin of a late winter garden, waiting for the spring. “Catherine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-goolrick/she-was-just-a-simple-honest-woman-standing-in-the-ruin-of-a-late/) [Robert Goolrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-goolrick/) > [“I walked towards her. Jean-Claude grabbed my arm. "Do not harm her, Anita. She is under our protection." "I swear to you that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-walked-towards-her-jean-claude-grabbed-my-arm-do-not-harm-her-anita/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“When he finally broke off the kiss and moved his lips to her neck, then her breast again, sucking her nipples back to hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/when-he-finally-broke-off-the-kiss-and-moved-his-lips-to-her-neck/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [Margaret Thatcher had more impact on the world than any woman ruler since Catherine the Great of Russia. Not only did she turn around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/margaret-thatcher-had-more-impact-on-the-world-than-any-woman-ruler/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) > [Catherine Zeta-Jones started out like me. Her big break in Hollywood was in 'Zorro.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-griffiths/catherine-zeta-jones-started-out-like-me-her-big-break-in-hollywood/) [Lucy Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-griffiths/) > [“No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/no-one-who-had-ever-seen-catherine-morland-in-her-infancy-would-have-2/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“To my lady Catherine, I give you gold with a diamond you can barely see, But the gem would be castle-sized if it expressed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-c-andrews/to-my-lady-catherine-i-give-you-gold-with-a-diamond-you-can-barely/) [V.C. Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-c-andrews/) > [He had been content with daily labour and rough animal enjoyments, 'till Catherine crossed his path. Shame at her scorn, and hope of her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/he-had-been-content-with-daily-labour-and-rough-animal-enjoyments/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“Gaston Leroux claimed that Erik’s character was based on fact. In my novel, let your mind imagine that Catherine’s is too…if you dare!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha/gaston-leroux-claimed-that-erik-s-character-was-based-on-fact-in-my/) [Samantha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha/) > [When I had photographed Prince William's mother, I brought along a CD of Dalida, a French singer, that we played on set all day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-testino/when-i-had-photographed-prince-william-s-mother-i-brought-along-a-cd/) [Mario Testino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-testino/) > [“I’m not— Lady Macbeth Lucrezia Borgia Catherine the Great. I am —a woman doing what she has to do. I am —the woman you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/i-m-not-lady-macbeth-lucrezia-borgia-catherine-the-great-i-am-a-woman/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) Browse all 121 Catherine quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Catherine usually sat by me, but to- day she stole nearer to Hareton; and I presently saw she would have no more discretion in her friendship than she had in her hostility.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emily Brontë" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/catherine-usually-sat-by-me-but-to-day-she-stole-nearer-to-hareton/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Catherine" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/catherine-usually-sat-by-me-but-to-day-she-stole-nearer-to-hareton/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac5/emily-bronte-574_catherine_catherine-usually-sat-by-me-but-to-day-s_2904490.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac5/emily-bronte-574_catherine_catherine-usually-sat-by-me-but-to-day-s_2904490.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac5/emily-bronte-574_catherine_catherine-usually-sat-by-me-but-to-day-s_2904490.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Catherine usually sat by me, but to- day she stole nearer to Hareton; and I presently saw she would have no…” — Emily Brontë", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Emily Brontë", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Catherine usually sat by me, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/catherine-usually-sat-by-me-but-to-day-she-stole-nearer-to-hareton/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/catherine-usually-sat-by-me-but-to-day-she-stole-nearer-to-hareton/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```