Genius at first is little more than a great capacity for receiving discipline.

A woman's heart must be of such a size and no larger, else it must be pressed small, like Chinese feet; her happiness is to be made as cakes are, by a fixed recipe.

If a woman's young and pretty, I think you can see her good looks all the better for her being plainly dressed.

The beginning of an acquaintance whether with persons or things is to get a definite outline of our ignorance.

Men can do nothing without the make-believe of a beginning.

I shall be so glad if you will tell me what to read. I have been looking into all the books in the library at Offendene, but there is nothing readable. The leaves all stick together and smell musty. I wish I could write books to amuse myself, as you can! How delightful it must be to write books after one's own taste instead of reading other people's! Home-made books must be so nice.

When you get me a good man made out of arguments, I will get you a good dinner with reading you the cookery book.