Thomas Hardy

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.

There seemed to be two distinct entities: the woman of flesh, and the image of herself in the minds of others.

His morning thoughts were still of what they had been for so many months—those of a man who did not believe in God, and was therefore without hope for himself or humanity.

Don't you think it's rather nice to think that we're in a book that God's writing? If I were writing a book, I might make mistakes. But God knows how to make the best artists—there's not a single mistake in any of his plans.

No one can really be taught to write. Long practice in the habit of writing so as to think on paper is the only way.

Happiness would have been simply to taste the water, and sleep on the dry rock.

Why is marriage always a hopeless tangle for women?

In his secret heart he would make no further desperate endeavours to rise daily to a height above himself; but would become as his environment was—dark, and even sinister.

But the hopelessly downtrodden are not often cheerful.

But there’s such a difference between saying a thing yourself and hearing other people say it.

I have been obedient—entirely. But..obedience can ruin an individual just as completely as overindulgence.

I might have known what you would do! People like you—who can't do anything themselves—always reproach others.