“The offhand decision of some commonplace mind high in office at a critical moment influences the course of events for a hundred years.”

“Everybody is so talented nowadays that the only people I care to honor as deserving real distinction are those who remain in obscurity.”

“It is difficult for a woman to define her feelings in language which is chiefly made by men to express theirs.”

“That it would always be summer and autumn, and you always courting me, and always thinking as much of me as you have done through the past summertime!”

“Ma qualcuno potrebbe chiedermi: dove si trovava l'angelo custode di Tess? Esisteva una provvidenza che tutelasse la sua ingenua fiducia? Forse, come quell'altra divinità di cui parlava l'iro...”