Elizabeth Gaskell Quotes

Sometimes one likes foolish people for their folly, better than wise people for their wisdom.

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 world is always contemplating their individual charms and virtues.

Margaret was not a ready lover, but where she loved she loved passionately, and with no small degree of jealousy.

There is nothing like wounded affection for giving poignancy to anger.

He shrank from hearing Margaret's very name mentioned; he, while he blamed her—while he was jealous of her—while he renounced her—he loved her sorely, in spite of himself.

A wise parent humors the desire for independent action, so as to become the friend and advisor when his absolute rule shall cease.

But the future must be met, however stern and iron it be.

I'll not listen to reason... reason always means what someone else has got to say.

He could not forget the touch of her arms around his neck, impatiently felt as it had been at the time; but now the recollection of her clinging defence of him, seemed to thrill him through and through,—to melt away every resolution, all power of self-control, as if it were wax before a fire.