Northanger Abbey Quotes
"No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine."
"Her father was a clergyman, without being neglected, or poor, and a very respectable man."
"A family of ten children will be always called a fine family, where there are heads and arms and legs enough for the number."
"Catherine grows quite a good-looking girl - she is almost pretty today."
"What a strange, unaccountable character! - for with all these symptoms of profligacy at ten years old, she had neither a bad heart nor a bad temper."
"From Pope, she learnt to censure those who 'bear about the mockery of woe.'"
"Trifles light as air, Are, to the jealous, confirmation strong, As proofs of Holy Writ."
"Mrs. Allen was one of that numerous class of females, whose society can raise no other emotion than surprise at there being any men in the world who could like them well enough to marry them."
"Catherine was not so much engaged at the theatre that evening, in returning the nods and smiles of Miss Thorpe, though they certainly claimed much of her leisure."
"The company began to disperse when the dancing was over - enough to leave space for the remainder to walk about in some comfort."
"I am sure they will consent," was her frequent declaration; "I am sure they will be delighted with you."
"Richmond!" cried Catherine. "You must settle near Fullerton. You must be near us."
"For my own part," said Isabella, "my wishes are so moderate that the smallest income in nature would be enough for me."
"I remember too, Miss Andrews drank tea with us that evening, and wore her puce-coloured sarsenet; and she looked so heavenly that I thought your brother must certainly fall in love with her."
"The very first day that Morland came to us last Christmas-the very first moment I beheld him-my heart was irrecoverably gone."
"I am glad your brother had so much sense; I am glad you are come back. It was a strange, wild scheme."
"I have read all Mrs. Radcliffe's works, and most of them with great pleasure."
"I am sure I only wish our situations were reversed. Had I the command of millions, were I mistress of the whole world, your brother would be my only choice."
"It is impossible," said she, "for parents to be more kind, or more desirous of their children's happiness; I have no doubt of their consenting immediately."
"I was not within at the time; but I heard of it from Eleanor, and she has been wishing ever since to see you, to explain the reason of such incivility."
"I am sure I shall be miserable if we do not."
"I cannot bear to see you linger so. For heaven's sake, waste no more time."
"I hope, Miss Morland, you will not be sorry to see me."
"The pleasure of walking and breathing fresh air is enough for me."
"The money is nothing, it is not an object, but employment is the thing."
"I thought it a very foolish, imprudent business, and not likely to promote the good of either."
"I never could, till I saw them the other day in Milsom Street; I am naturally indifferent about flowers."
"The mere habit of learning to love is the thing."
"Her heart fluttered, her knees trembled, and her cheeks grew pale."
"I am quite uneasy about your dear brother, not having heard from him since he went to Oxford."
"I rejoice to say that the young man whom, of all others, I particularly abhor, has left Bath."
"Such a contrast between him and your brother!"
"I must go and prepare a dinner for you, to be sure."
"I cannot wonder at your feelings. I will not importune you."
"But how can I tell you? Tomorrow morning is fixed for your leaving us."
"I trust, said the general, with a most satisfied smile, that it will very speedily be furnished."
"The happiness your company has hitherto given us is to be repaid by... But I must not trust myself with words."
"A heroine in a hack post-chaise is such a blow upon sentiment, as no attempt at grandeur or pathos can withstand."
"Without suffering any romantic alarm, in the consideration of their daughter's long and lonely journey, Mr. and Mrs. Morland could not but feel that it might have been productive of much unpleasantness to her."
"Catherine would make a sad, heedless young housekeeper to be sure."
"Goodwill supplying the place of experience, his character needed no attestation."
"Henry, in having such things to relate of his father, was almost as pitiable as in their first avowal to himself."
"The general, accustomed on every ordinary occasion to give the law in his family, prepared for no reluctance but of feeling."
"The most charming young man in the world is instantly before the imagination of us all."
"Henry and Catherine were married, the bells rang, and everybody smiled."
"To begin perfect happiness at the respective ages of twenty-six and eighteen is to do pretty well."
"I leave it to be settled, by whomsoever it may concern, whether the tendency of this work be altogether to recommend parental tyranny, or reward filial disobedience."