A little credulity helps one on through life very smoothly.

— Elizabeth Gaskell

A little credulity helps one on through life very smoothly — better than always doubting and doubting and seeing difficulties and disagreeable in everything.

— Elizabeth Gaskell

All the morning since he got up he had been trying to fight through his duties—leaning against a hope—a hope that first had bowed, and then had broke as soon as he really tried its weight. There was not a sign of Sylvia’s liking for him to be gathered from the most careful recollection of the past evening. It was of no use thinking there was. It was better to give it up altogether and at once. But what if he could not? What if the thought of her was bound up with his life; and that once torn out by his own free will, the very roots of his heart must come also?

— Elizabeth Gaskell

And so she shuddered away from the threat of his enduring love. What did he mean? Had she not the power to daunt him? She would see. It was more daring than became a man to threaten her.

— Elizabeth Gaskell

Another year passed on. The waves of time seemed long since to have swept away all trace of poor Mary Barton. But her husband still thought of her, although with a calm and quiet grief, in the silent watches of the night :And Mary would start from her hard-earned sleep, and think in her half dreamy, half awakened state, she saw her mother stand by her bed-side, as she used to do 'in the days of long-ago'; with shaded candle and an expression of ineffable tenderness, while she looked on her sleeping child.

— Elizabeth Gaskell

Ask, and it shall be given until you. That is no vain or untried promise, Ruth!

— Elizabeth Gaskell

- A! Thornton o' Marlborough Mill, as we call him.- He is one of the masters you are striving with, is he not? What sort of master is he? - Did yo' ever see a bulldog? Set a bulldog on hind legs, and dress him up in coat and breeches, and yo'n just gotten John Thornton.

— Elizabeth Gaskell

A wise parent humors the desire for independent action to become the friend and advisor when his absolute rule shall cease.

— Elizabeth Gaskell

A wise parent humors the desire for independent action, to become the friend and advisor when his absolute rule shall cease.

— Elizabeth Gaskell

But I got through the review, for all their Latin and French; I did, and if you doubt me, you just look at the end of the great ledger, turn it upside down, and you'll find I've copied out all the fine words they said of you: "careful observer," "strong nervous English," "rising philosopher." Oh! I can nearly say it all off by heart, for many a time when I am grabbed by bad debts, or Osborne's bills, or moldered with accounts, I turn the ledger wrong way up, and smoke a pipe over it, while I read those pieces out of the review which speak about you, lad!

— Elizabeth Gaskell