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.
—Elizabeth Gaskell
Topics: Faults, Mistakes
A little credulity helps one on through life very smoothly.
—Elizabeth Gaskell
Topics: Belief
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
—Elizabeth Gaskell
Topics: Romance
My heart burnt within me with indignation and grief; we could think of nothing else. All night long we had only snatches of sleep, waking up perpetually to the sense of a great shock and grief. Every one is feeling the same. I never knew so universal a feeling.
—Elizabeth Gaskell
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
I’ll not listen to reason … . Reason always means what someone else has got to say.
—Elizabeth Gaskell
Topics: Reason
Sometimes one likes foolish people for their folly, better than wise people for their wisdom.
—Elizabeth Gaskell
Topics: Foolishness, Fools
A wise parent humors the desire for independent action, so as to become the friend and advisor when his absolute rule shall cease.
—Elizabeth Gaskell
Topics: Parents, Parenting
He had not an ounce of superfluous flesh on his bones, and leanness goes a great way towards gentility.
—Elizabeth Gaskell
Topics: Mankind, Man, Body
That kind of patriotism which consists of hating all other nations.
—Elizabeth Gaskell
Topics: Xenophobia
How easy it is to judge rightly after one sees what evil comes from judging wrongly!
—Elizabeth Gaskell
Topics: Judging, Judges, Judgment
To be sure a stepmother to a girl is a different thing to a second wife to a man!
—Elizabeth Gaskell
Topics: Marriage
Loyalty and obedience to wisdom and justice are fine; but it is still finer to defy arbitrary power, unjustly and cruelly used—not on behalf of ourselves, but on behalf of others more helpless.
—Elizabeth Gaskell
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie English Novelist, Biographer
- Charles Reade British Author
- Wilkie Collins English Novelist, Playwright
- Anne Bronte English Novelist, Poet
- Charlotte Bronte English Novelist, Poet
- Emily Bronte English Novelist, Poet
- Ouida (Maria Louise Rame) English Novelist
- George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) English Novelist
- Mary Elizabeth Braddon English Novelist
- Laurence Housman English Novelist, Dramatist
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