The evil of the actual disparity in their ages (and Mr. Woodhouse had not married early) was much increased by his constitution and habits; for having been a valetudinarian all his life, without activity of mind or body, he was a much older man in ways than in years; and though everywhere beloved for the friendliness of his heart and his amiable temper, his talents could not have recommended him at any time.

We live at home, quiet, confined, and our feelings prey upon us.

I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle.

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

Fraternal love, sometimes almost every thing, is at others worse than nothing.

The stream is as good as at first; the little rubbish it collects in the turnings is easily moved away.

A man . . . must have a very good opinion of himself when he asks people to leave their own fireside, and encounter such a day as this, for the sake of coming to see him. He must think himself a most agreeable fellow.