There is one thing sadder than to see one’s children die; it is to see them live badly.

There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.

We discovered, after a time, that we couldn’t live on love alone; that bread must be earned, and tempers kneaded, and small economies practiced, if two foolish young things were to keep house with any peace; and so we learned to make the trials into lessons, and the lessons into habits, and the habits into a very decent happiness.

I am alone and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me. My companion must be of the same species, and have the same defects. This being you must create.

You think I have no feelings, and that I can do without one bit of love or kindness; but I cannot live so: and you have no pity.

The distance is nothing when one has a motive.

Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.