Quotes by Elizabeth Gaskell

He came up straight to her father, whose hands he took and wrung without a word - holding them in his for a minute or two, during which time his face, his eyes, his look, told of more sympathy than could be put into words.

No one loves me, - no one cares for me, but you, mother.

If Molly had not been so entirely loyal to her friend, she might havethought this constant brilliancy a little tiresome when brought intoevery-day life; it was not the sunshiny rest of a placid lake, it wasrather the glitter of the pieces of a broken mirror, which confusesand bewilders.

My father once made us, she began, keep a diary, in two columns; on one side we were to put down in the morning what we thought would be the course and events of the coming day, and at night we were to put down on the other side what really had happened. It would be to some people rather a sad way of telling their lives, (a tear dropped upon my hand at these words) - I dont mean that mine has been sad, only so very different to what I expected.

He swallowed down the dry choking sobs which had been heaving up from his heart hitherto ...

I would far rather have two or three lilies of the valley gathered for me by a person I like, than the most expensive bouquet that could be bought!

Your husband this morning! Mine tonight! What do you take him for?A man smiled Cynthia. And therefore, if you wont let me call him changeable, Ill coin a word and call him consolable.

All the morning since he got up he had been trying to fight through his duties—leaning against a hope—a hope that first had bowed, and then had broke as soon as he really tried its weight. There was not a sign of Sylvia’s liking for him to be gathered from the most careful recollection of the past evening. It was of no use thinking there was. It was better to give it up altogether and at once. But what if he could not? What if the thought of her was bound up with his life; and that once torn out by his own free will, the very roots of his heart must come also?

People may flatter themselves just as much by thinking that their faults are always present to other peoples minds, as if they believe that the world is always contemplating their individual charms and virtues.

He were found drowned. He were coming home very hopeless o aught on earth. He thought God could na be harder than men; mappen not so hard; mappen as tender as a mother; mappen tenderer. Im not saying he did right, and Im not saying he didnt wrong. All I say is, may neither me nor mine ever have his sore heart, or we may do like things.

Indeed! I am truly glad to hear it. I always always fond of Osborne; and, do you know, I never really took to Roger; I respected him and all that, of course. But to compare him with Mr. Henderson! Mr. Henderson is so handsome and well-bred, and gets all his gloves from Houbigant!

How easy it is to judge rightly after one sees what evil comes from judging wrongly.

I know you despise me; allow me to say, it is because you do not understand me.

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

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.

I am the mother that bore you, and your sorrow is my agony; and if you dont hate her, i doThen, mother, you make me love her more. She is unjustly treated by you, and I must make the balance even.

Jemima was not pretty, the flatness and shortness of her face made her almost plain; yet most people looked twice at her expressive countenance, at the eyes which flamed or melted at every trifle, at the rich colour which came at every expressed emotion into her usually sallow face, at the faultless teeth which made her smile like a sunbeam.

Now, the error which many parents commit in the treatment of the individual at this time(adolescense) is, insisting on the same unreasoning obedience as when all he had to do in the way of duty was, to obey the simple laws of Come when youre called, and Do as youre bid! But a wise parent humours the desire for independent action, so as to become the friend and adviser when his absolute rule shall cease.

Many a one has been comforted in their sorrow by seeing a good dish come upon the table.

Mr. Thorton love Margaret! Why, Margraret would never think of him, Im sure! Such a thing has never entered her head. Entering her heart would do.