It was terribly beautiful to Tess today, for since her eyes last fell upon it she had learnt that the serpent hisses where the sweet birds sing.

The smile on your mouth was the deadest thing alive enough to have strength to die. (from "Neutral Tones")

Why didn’t you tell me there was danger? Why didn’t you warn me? Ladies know what to guard against, because they read novels that tell them of these tricks; but I never had the chance of discovering in that way; and you did not help me!

Tis because we be on a blighted star, and not a sound one, isn't it Tess?

Bless thy simplicity, Tess

The main object of religion is not to get a man into heaven, but to get heaven into him.

Beauty lay not in the thing, but in what the thing symbolized.