I trust you as holy men trust God; you could do nought that was not pure and loving, though the deed might pierce me unto death.

Blameless people are always the most exasperating.

I don't mind how many letters I receive from one who interests me as much as you do. The receptive part of correspondence I can carry on with much alacrity. It is writing answers that I groan over.

To be candid, in Middlemarch phraseology, meant, to use an early opportunity of letting your friends know that you did not take a cheerful view of their capacity, their conduct, or their position; and a robust candor never waited to be asked for its opinion.

bad literature of the sort called amusing is spiritual gin.

There are answers which, in turning away wrath, only send it to the other end of the room, and to have a discussion coolly waived when you feel that justice is all on your own side is even more exasperating in marriage than in philosophy.

I not only want to be loved, I want to be told that I'm loved.