Quotes by Thomas Hardy

“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!””

“Did you say the stars were worlds, Tess?""Yes.""All like ours?""I don't know, but I think so. They sometimes seem to be like the apples on our stubbard-tree. Most of them splendid and sound - a few blighted.""Which do we live on - a splendid one or a blighted one?""A blighted one.””

“People go on marrying because they can't resist natural forces, although many of them may know perfectly well that they are possibly buying a month's pleasure with a life's discomfort.””

“Love is a possible strength in an actual weakness.””

“Did it never strike your mind that what every woman says, some women may feel?””

“I shall do one thing in this life - one thing certain - that is, love you, and long for you, and keep wanting you till I die.””

“And at home by the fire, whenever you look up there I shall be”

“But no one came. Because no one ever does.””

“Why is it that a woman can see from a distance what a man cannot see close?””

“The beauty or ugliness of a character lay not only in its achievements, but in its aims and impulses; its true history lay, not among things done, but among things willed.””

“Ladies know what to guard against, because they read novels that tell them of these tricks…””

“At first I did not love you, Jude; that I own. When I first knew you I merely wanted you to love me. I did not exactly flirt with you; but that inborn craving which undermines some women's morals almost more than unbridled passion--the craving to attract and captivate, regardless of the injury it may do the man--was in me; and when I found I had caught you, I was frightened. And then--I don't know how it was-- I couldn't bear to let you go--possibly to Arabella again--and so I got to love you, Jude. But you see, however fondly it ended, it began in the selfish and cruel wish to make your heart ache for me without letting mine ache for you.””

“If an offense come out of the truth, better is it that the offense come than that the truth be concealed.””

“Sometimes I shrink from your knowing what I have felt for you, and sometimes I am distressed that all of it you will never know.””