Elizabeth Gaskell Quotes

124 Sourced Quotes

Again, stepping nearer, he besought her with another tremulous eager call upon her name. 'Margaret!' Still lower went the head; more closely hidden was the face, almost resting on the table before her. He came close to her. He knelt by her side, to bring his face to a level with her ear; and whispered-panted out the words: — 'Take care. — If you do not speak — I shall claim you as my own in some strange presumptuous way.

Elizabeth Gaskell
But Margaret went less abroad, among machinery and men; saw less of power in its public effect, and, as it happened, she was thrown with one or two of those who, in all measures affecting masses of people, must be acute sufferers for the good of many. The question always is, has everything been done to make the sufferings of these exceptions as small as possible?

Elizabeth Gaskell
Margaret the Churchwoman, her father the Dissenter, Higgins the Infidel, knelt down together. It did them no harm.

Elizabeth Gaskell
Of all faults the one she most despised in others was the want of bravery; the meanness of heart which leads to untruth.

Elizabeth Gaskell
He shook hands with Margaret. He knew it was the first time their hands had met, though she was perfectly unconscious of the fact.

Elizabeth Gaskell
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
Don't be afraid, she said, coldly, as far as love may go she may be worthy of you. It must have taken a good deal to overcome her pride. Don't be afraid, John.

Elizabeth Gaskell
It was her brother,' said Mr. Thornton to himself. 'I am glad.I may never see her again; but it is comfort-a relief-to know that much. I knew she could not be unmaidenly; and yet I yearned for conviction. Now I am glad!' It was a little golden thread running through the dark web of his present fortunes; which were growing ever gloomier and more gloomy.

Elizabeth Gaskell
A wise parent humours the desire for independent action, so as to become the friend and adviser when his absolute rule shall cease.

Elizabeth Gaskell
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 Latin book on your shelves; but it's gibberish and no truth to me, unless I know the meaning o' the words.

Elizabeth Gaskell
Trust a girl of sixteen for knowing well if she is pretty; concerning her plainness she may be ignorant.

Elizabeth Gaskell
God has made us so that we must be mutually dependent. We may ignore our own dependence, or refuse to acknowledge that others depend upon us in more respects than the payment of weekly wages; but the thing must be, nevertheless. Neither you nor any other master can help yourselves. The most proudly independent man depends on those around him for their insensible influence on his character - his life.

Elizabeth Gaskell
He could not - say rather, he would not - deny himself the chance of the pleasure of seeing Margaret. He had no end in this but the present gratification.

Elizabeth Gaskell
Yet, even before he left the room, - and certainly, not five minutes after, the clear conviction dawned upon her, shined bright upon her, that he did love her; that he had loved her; that he would love her. And she shrank and shuddered as under the fascination of some great power, repugnant to her whole previous life.She crept away, and hid from his idea. But it was of no use

Elizabeth Gaskell
I know you despise me; allow me to say, it is because you don't understand me.

Elizabeth Gaskell
What other people may think of the rightness or wrongness is nothing in comparison to my own deep knowledge, my innate conviction that it was wrong.

Elizabeth Gaskell
I value my own independence so highly that I can fancy no degradation greater than that of having another man perpetually directing and advising and lecturing me, or even planning too closely in any way about my actions. He might be the wisest of men, or the most powerful—I should equally rebel and resent his interference...

Elizabeth Gaskell
But with the increase of serious and just ground of complaint, a new kind of patience had sprung up in her Mother's mind. She was gentle and quiet in intense bodily suffering, almost in proportion as she had been restless and depressed when there had been no real cause for grief.

Elizabeth Gaskell
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
I'll make her a pudding, and a pudding she'll like, too... Many a one has been comforted in their sorrow by seeing a good dish come upon the table.

Elizabeth Gaskell
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.

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

Elizabeth Gaskell
His laws once broken, His justice and the very nature of those laws bring the immutable retribution; but if we turn penitently to Him, He enables us to bear our punishment with a meek and docile heart, 'for His mercy endureth forever.

Elizabeth Gaskell
One word more. You look as if you thought it tainted you to be loved by me. You cannot avoid it. Nay, I, if I would, cannot cleanse you from it. But I would not, if I could. I have never loved any woman before: my life has been too busy, my thoughts too much absorbed with other things. Now I love, and will love. But do not be afraid of too much expression on my part.

Elizabeth Gaskell
Errands of mercy — errands of sin — did you ever think where all the thousands of people you daily meet are bound?

Elizabeth Gaskell
Mr. Thornton felt that in this influx no one was speaking to Margaret, and was restless under this apparent neglect. But he never went near her himself; he did not look at her. Only, he knew what she was doing — or not doing — better than anyone else in the room. Margaret was so unconscious of herself, and so much amused by watching other people, that she never thought whether she was left unnoticed or not.

Elizabeth Gaskell
Like all energetic people, the more he had to do the more time he seemed to find.

Elizabeth Gaskell
That kind of patriotism which consists in hating all other nations.

Elizabeth Gaskell
There was a filmy veil of soft dull mist obscuring, but not hiding, all objects, giving them a lilac hue, for the sun had not yet fully set; a robin was singing... The leaves were more gorgeous than ever; the first touch of frost would lay them all low to the ground. Already one or two kept constantly floating down, amber and golden in the low slanting sun-rays.

Elizabeth Gaskell
All the earth, though it were full of kind hearts, is but a desolation and desert place to a mother when her only child is absent.

Elizabeth Gaskell