I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch for. It is, I believe, too little yielding— certainly too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of other so soon as I ought, nor their offenses against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost forever.

Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then.

We must not be so ready to fancy ourselves intentionally injured. We must not expect a lively young man to be always so guarded and circumspect. It is very often nothing but our own vanity that deceives us. Women fancy admiration means more than it does.

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

Sometimes the last person on earth you want to be with is the one person you can't be without.

it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life.

A mother would have been always present. A mother would have been a constant friend; her influence would have been beyond all other.