Quotes from Wives and Daughters

“Sometimes one likes foolish people for their folly, better than wise people for their wisdom.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“How easy it is to judge rightly after one sees what evil comes from judging wrongly.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“There is nothing like wounded affection for giving poignancy to anger.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“I won't say she was silly, but I think one of us was silly, and it was not me.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“The French girls would tell you, to believe that you were pretty would make you so.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“I say Gibson, we're old friends, and you're a fool if you take anything I say as an offense. Madam your wife and I didn't hit it off the only time I ever saw her. I won't say she was silly, but I think one of us was silly, and it wasn't me!”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“Did I ever say an engagement was an elephant, madam?”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“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!”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“I daresay it seems foolish; perhaps all our earthly trials will appear foolish to us after a while; perhaps they seem so now to angels. But we are ourselves, you know, and this is now, not some time to come, a long, long way off. And we are not angels, to be comforted by seeing the ends for which everything is sent.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“Nay, nay!” said the Squire. “It’s not so easy to break one’s heart. Sometimes I’ve wished it were. But one has to go on living—‘all the appointed days,’ as is said in the Bible.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“I do try to say, God’s will be done, sir,” said the Squire, looking up at Mr. Gibson for the first time, and speaking with more life in his voice; “but it’s harder to be resigned than happy people think.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“Oh!s little bird told us,' said Miss Browning. Molly knew that little bird from her childhood, and had always hated it, and longed to wring its neck. Why could not people speak out and say that they did not mean to give up the name of their informant?”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“Love me as I am, sweet one, for I shall never be better.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“I wish I could love people as you do, Molly!'
'Don't you?' said the other, in surprise.
'No. A good number of people love me, I believe, or at least they think they do; but I never seem to care much for any one. I do believe I love you, little Molly, whom I have only known for ten days, better than any one.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“All sorts of thoughts cross one's mind—it depends upon whether one gives them harbour and encouragement”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“But fate it a cunning hussy, and builds up her plans as imperceptibly as a bird builds her nest; and with the same kind of unconsidered trifles.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“Your husband this morning! Mine tonight! What do you take him for?'
'A man' smiled Cynthia. 'And therefore, if you won't let me call him changeable, I'll coin a word and call him consolable.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“To begin with the old rigmarole of childhood. In a country there was a shire, and in that shire there was a town, and in that town there was a house, and in that house there was a room, and in that room there was a bed, and in that bed there lay a little girl;”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“Women are queer, unreasoning creatures, and are just as likely as not to love a man who has been throwing away his affection.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“I think that if advice is good it's the best comfort.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“It is right to hope for the best about everybody, and not to expect the worst. This sounds like a truism, but it has comforted me before now, and some day you'll find it useful. One has always to try to think more of others than of oneself, and it is best not to prejudge people on the bad side.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“he is the personification of sensible silence.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“As far as one knows of heroines from history. I'm capable of a great jerk, an effort, and then a relaxation—but steady every-day goodness is beyond me. I must be a moral kangaroo!”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“he had never known her value, he thought, till now.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“Oh! a little bird told us," said Miss Browning. Molly knew that little bird from her childhood, and had always hated it, and longed to wring its neck. Why could not people speak out and say that they did not mean to give up the name of their informant?”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“But I got through the review, for all their Latin and French; I did, and if you doubt me, you just look at the end of the great ledger, turn it upside down, and you'll find I've copied out all the fine words they said of you: "careful observer," "strong nervous English," "rising philosopher."
Oh! I can nearly say it all off by heart, for many a time when I am frabbed by bad debts, or Osborne's bills, or moidered with accounts, I turn the ledger wrong way up, and smoke a pipe over it, while I read those pieces out of the review which speak about you, lad!”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“Pooh! away with love! Nay, my dear, we loved each other so dearly we should never have been happy with any one else; but that's a different thing. People aren't like what they were when we were young. All the love nowadays is just silly fancy, and sentimental romance, as far as I can see.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“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!”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“I don't mind your calling me a clog, if only we were fastened together."

"But I do mind you calling me a donkey," he replied.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

“...And as for your hair!it's worse than ever.Can't you drench it in water to take those untidy twists and twirls out of it?'
'It only makes it curl more and more whey it gets dry,' said Molly, sudden tears coming into her eyes as a recollection came before her like a picture seen long ago and forgotten for years-a young mother washing and dressing her little girl; placing the half-naked darling on her knee, and twining the wet rings of dark hair fondly round her fingers, and then, in ecstasy of fondness, kissing the little curly head.”
― Elizabeth Gaskell, quote from Wives and Daughters

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“When weary day does shed its light, I rest my head and dream, I ride the great dark bird of night, so tranquil and serene. Then I can touch the moon afar, which smiles up in the sky, and steal a twinkle from each star, as we go winging by.   We’ll fly the night to dawning light, and wait ’til dark has ceased, to marvel at the wondrous sight, of sunrise in the east. So slumber on, my little one, float soft as thistledown, and wake to see when night is done, fair morning’s golden gown.”
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“What are these?”
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“And this place that, hey, is locked, wouldn’t be the property of that person. Would that be correct?”
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