Sister Carrie Quotes
"When a girl leaves her home at eighteen, she does one of two things. Either she falls into saving hands and becomes better, or she rapidly assumes the cosmopolitan standard of virtue and becomes worse."
"The city has its cunning wiles, no less than the infinitely smaller and more human tempter."
"Books were beyond her interest—knowledge a sealed book."
"A half-equipped little knight she was, venturing to reconnoitre the mysterious city and dreaming wild dreams of some vague, far-off supremacy."
"Her heart was troubled by a kind of terror. The fact that she was alone, away from home, rushing into a great sea of life and endeavour, began to tell."
"She felt the drag of a lean and narrow life."
"Carrie realised the change of affectional atmosphere at once. Amid all the maze, uproar, and novelty she felt cold reality taking her by the hand."
"So severe a defeat told sadly upon her nerves."
"It was so with the vast railroad yards, with the crowded array of vessels she saw at the river, and the huge factories over the way, lining the water's edge."
"She could not help feeling the claim of each trinket and valuable upon her personally, and yet she did not stop."
"But women are peculiarly sensitive to their adornment."
"It is a sad thing to want for happiness, but it is a terrible thing to see another groping about blindly for it, when it is almost within the grasp."
"Love is all a woman has to give," she laid a strange, sweet accent on the all, "but it is the only thing which God permits us to carry beyond the grave."
"Remember, love is all a woman has to give, but it is the only thing which God permits us to carry beyond the grave."
"Let the woman you look upon be wise or vain, beautiful or homely, rich or poor, she has but one thing she can really give or refuse—her heart."
"Her beauty, her wit, her accomplishments, she may sell to you; but her love is the treasure without money and without price."
"You look to the trees for strength and grandeur; do not despise the flowers because their fragrance is all they have to give."
"Ray, my friend, courtship is the text from which the whole sermon of married life takes its theme."
"To be my wife, yes, but it is the only thing which God permits us to carry beyond the grave."
"I've been sick," he answered. "I've just got out of the hospital. For God's sake, let me have a little money, will you?"
"Of course," said Carrie, her lip trembling in a strong effort to maintain her composure. "But what's the matter with you, anyhow?"
"I've been sick, I told you," he said, peevishly, almost resenting her excessive pity.
"All right," he answered, softly. "I'll give it back to you some day."
"Why don't you tell me what's the matter with you?" she asked, hardly knowing what to do.
"Oh, I've got a room down in the Bowery," he answered.
"There's no use trying to tell you here. I'm all right now."
"Better go on in," he said. "I'm much obliged, but I won't bother you any more."
"She isn't so much," he said; but in his heart of hearts he did not believe this.
"The world is full of desirable situations, but, unfortunately, we can occupy but one at a time. It doesn’t do us any good to wring our hands over the far-off things."
"Isn't that a pathetic strain?" he inquired, listening.
"I don’t know what it is about music," she started to say, "but it always makes me feel as if I wanted something—I—"
"I saw your play," he remarked. "It’s very good."
"This here Single Tax is the thing," said another. "There ain’t going to be no order till it comes."
"I don’t believe I’ll stay in comedy so very much longer," she eventually remarked to Lola.
"I think," she said, "I can do better in a serious play."
"You wouldn’t care, if you had," she returned.