The best Agnes Grey quotes

It is foolish to wish for beauty. Sensible people never either desire it for themselves or care about it in others. If the mind be but well cultivated, and the heart well disposed, no one ever cares for the exterior.

What a fool you must be," said my head to my heart, or my sterner to my softer self.

One bright day in the last week of February, I was walking in the park, enjoying the threefold luxury of solitude, a book, and pleasant weather.

The ties that bind us to life are tougher than you imagine, or than any one can who has not felt how roughly they may be pulled without breaking.

I always lacked common sense when taken by surprise.

What business had I to think of one that never thought of me?

"Oh, Richard!" exclaimed she, on one occasion, "if you would but dismiss such gloomy subjects from your mind, you would live as long as any of us; at least you would live to see the girls married, and yourself a happy grandfather, with a canty old dame for your companion."

Reading is my favourite occupation, when I have leisure for it and books to read.

The end of Religion is not to teach us how to die, but how to live...

I began this book with the intention of concealing nothing, that those who liked might have the benefit of perusing a fellow creature’s heart: but we have some thoughts that all the angels in heaven are welcome to behold — but not our brother-men — not even the best and kindest amongst them.

No, thank you, I don't mind the rain,' I said. I always lacked common sense when taken by surprise.