Elizabeth Gaskell

Quotes

1. Bessy stilled her rocking to gaze after her [Margaret Hale] "I wonder if there are many folk like her down South. She's like a breath of country air, somehow. She freshens me up about a bit. Who'd ha' thought that face-as bright and strong as the angel I dream of-could have know the sorrow she speaks on? I wonder how she'll sin. All on us must sin. I think a deal on her, for sure. But father does the like, I see. And Mary even. It's not often hoo's stirred up to notice much."

2. 

   " He [John Thornton] never looked at her; and yet, the careful avoidance of his eyes betokened that in some way he knew exactly where, if they fell by chance, they would rest on her. If she spoke, he gave no sign of attention, and yet his next speech to any one else was modified by what she had said; sometimes there was an express answer to what she had remarked, but given to another person as though unsuggested by her. It was not the bad manners of ignorance it was the wilful bad manners arising from deep offence. It was wilful at the time, repented of afterwards. But no deep plan, no careful cunning could have stood him in such good stead. Margaret thought about him more than she had ever done before; not with any tinge of what is called love, but with regret that she had wounded him so deeply,--and with a gentle, patient striving to return to their former position of antagonistic friendship; for a friend's position was what she found that he had held in her regard, as well as in that of the rest of the family. There was a pretty humility in her behaviour to him, as if mutely apologising for the over-strong words which were the reaction from the deeds of the day of the riot. But he resented those words bitterly. They rung in his ears; and he was proud of the sense of justice which made him go on in every kindness he could offer to her parents. He exulted in the power he showed in compelling himself to face her, whenever he could think of any action which might give her father or mother pleasure. He thought that he disliked seeing one who had mortified him so keenly; but he was mistaken. It was a stinging pleasure to be in the room with her, and feel her presence. But he was no great analyser of his own motives, and was mistaken as I have said."

3. 

   "Margaret opened the door and went in the straight, fearless, dignified presence habitual to her. She felt no awkwardness; she had business to her father; and, as he was one who had shown himself obliging, she was disposed to treat him with a full measure of civility.Mr. Thornton was a good deal more surprised and discomfited than she.Instead of a quiet, middle-aged clergyman,-a young lady came forward with frank dignity,-a young lady of a different type to most of those he was in the habit of seeing. Her dress was very plain: a white ribbon; a dark silk gown, without any trimming or flounce; a large Indian shawl. which hung about her in long heavy folds, and which she wore as an empress wears her drapery. He did not understand who she was, as he caught the simple, straight, unabashed beautiful countenance, and called up no flush of surprise to the pale ivory of the complexion. He had heard that Mr. Hale had a daughter, but he imagined that she was a little girl.

4. 

   "Yes; the fools will have a strike. Let them. It suits us well enough. But we give them a chance. They think trade is flourishing as it was last year. We see the storm on the horizon and draw in our sails. But because we don't explain our reasons, they won't believe we're acting reasonably. We must give them line and letter for the way we chose to spend or save our money. Henderson tried a dodge with his men, out at Ashley, and failed. He rather wanted a strike; it would have suited his book well enough. So when the men came to ask for the five per cent they are claiming, he told 'em he'd think about it, and give them his answer would be, of course, but thinking he'd strengthen their conceit of their own way. However, they were too deep for him, and heard something about the bad prospects of trade. So in they came on Friday, and drew back their claim, and how he's obliged to keep on working. But we Milton masters have to sent in our decision. We won't advance a penny. We tell them we may have to lower wages; but can't afford a raise. So here we stand waiting for their next attack."

5. 

   Economy was always "elegant", and money-spending always "vulgar and ostentatious"; a sort of sour-grapeism, which made us very peaceful and satisfied.

6. 

   I'll not listen to reason…Reason always means what someone else has got to say.

7. 

   A little credulity helps one on through life very smoothly.

8. 

   It was his general plan to repress emotion by not showing the sympathy he felt.

9. 

   People may flatter themselves just as much by thinking that their faults are always present to other people's minds, as if they believe that the world is always contemplating their individual charms and virtues.

10. 

    I daresay it seems foolish; perhaps all our earthly trials will appear foolish to us after a while; perhaps they seem so now to angels. But we are ourselves, you know, and this is now, not some time to come, a long, long way off. And we are not angels, to be comforted by seeing the ends for which everything is sent.

11. 

    Thinking more of others’ happiness than of her own was very fine; but did it not mean giving up her very individuality, quenching all the warm love, the true desires, that made her herself? Yet in this deadness lay her only comfort; so it seemed.

12. 

    It is odd enough to see how the entrance of a person of the opposite sex into an assemblage of either men or women calms down the little discordances and the disturbance of mood.