Nothing so pretty to look at as my garden!

I place flowers in the very first rank of simple pleasures; and I have no very good opinion of the hard worldly people who take no delight in them.

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

A novel should be as like life as a painting, but not as like life as a piece of waxwork.

[On Elizabeth Barrett Browning:] ... for finish, and melody of versification, there is nothing approaching to Miss Barrett in this day, or in any other - also for diction. Her words paint.

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...

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