God will judge us by our own thoughts and deeds, not by what others say about us.

if I hate the sins, I love the sinner, and would do much for his salvation

I would rather have your friendship than the love of any other woman in the world.

I cannot love a man who cannot protect me.

When I tell you not to marry without love, I do not advise you to marry for love alone: there are many, many other things to be considered. Keep both heart and hand in your own possession, till you see good reason to part with them; and if such an occasion should never present itself, comfort your mind with this reflection, that though in single life your joys may not be very many, your sorrows, at least, will not be more than you can bear. Marriage may change your circumstances for the better, but, in my private opinion, it is far more likely to produce a contrary result.

I began this book with the intention of concealing nothing, that those who liked might have the benefit of perusing a fellow creature's heart: but we have some thoughts that all the angels in heaven are welcome to behold -- but not our brother-men -- not even the best and kindest amongst them.

What the world stigmatizes as romantic is often more nearly allied to the truth than is commonly supposed.