For a long time the fear of seeming singular scared me away; but by degrees, as people became accustomed to me and my habits, and to such shadows of peculiarity as were engrained in my nature - shades, certainly not striking enough to interest, and perhaps not prominent enough to offend, but born in and with me, and no more to be parted with than my identity - but slow degrees I became a frequenter of this straight narrow path.

As far as my experience of matrimony goes -- I think it tends to draw you out of, and away from yourself.

Men judge us by the success of our efforts. God looks at the efforts themselves.

Jane, I never meant to wound you thus...Will you ever forgive me?" Reader, I forgave him at the moment and on the spot.

You are human and fallible.

It would not be wicked to love me." "It would to obey you.

You ask rather too many questions. I have given you answers enough for the present: now I want to read.