There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil, a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome." "And your defect is a propensity to hate everybody." "And yours," he replied with a smile, "is wilfully to misunderstand them.

She tried to be calm, and leave things to take their course; and tried to dwell much on this argument of rational dependence – “Surely, if there be constant attachment on each side, our hearts must understand each other ere long. We are not boy and girl, to be captiously irritable, misled by every moment’s inadvertence, and wantonly playing with our own happiness.” And yet, a few minutes afterwards, she felt as if their being in company with each other, under their present circumstances, could only be exposing them to inadvertencies and misconstructions of the most mischievous kind.

In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better show more affection than she feels.

Here I have opportunity enough for the exercise of my talent, as the chief of my time is spent in conversation.

Is not poetry the food of love?

I . . . am always half afraid of finding a clever novel too clever--& of finding my own story & my own people all forestalled.

Men of sense, whatever you may choose to say, do not want silly wives.