She was the prettiest, silliest, most affected, husband-hunting butterfly ever.

I have discovered that our great favourite, Miss Austen, is my countrywoman...with whom mamma before her marriage was acquainted. Mamma says that she was then the prettiest, silliest, most affected, husband-hunting butterfly she ever remembers...

That bad letters of every kind arise from want of the habit of thinking, I cannot doubt.

I have had a great misfortune; my dear old dog is dead.

There is no running away from a great grief.

[On Elizabeth Barrett Browning:] Her sweetness of character is even beyond her genius.

In our present high state of civilization, people are so much alike, that anything at all odd comes on one with the freshness and character of an antique coin among smooth shillings.