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Authors:

Thomas Hardy quotes

English Novelist June 2, 1840 – January 11, 1928

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Quotes

The only exercise that Tess took at this time was after dark; and it was then, when out in the woods, that she seemed least solitary. She knew how to hit to a hair’s-breadth that moment of evening when the light and the darkness are so evenly balanced that the constraint if day and the suspense of night neutralize each other, leaving absolute mental liberty. It is then that the plight of being alive becomes attenuated to its least possible dimensions. Thomas Hardy
It takes two or three generations to do what I tried to do in one; and my impulses--affections--vices perhaps they should be called-- were too strong not to hamper a man without advantages; who should be as cold-blooded as a fish and as selfish as a pig to have a really good chance of being one of his country's worthies. You may ridicule me--I am quite willing that you should-- I am a fit subject, no doubt. But I think if you knew what I have gone through these last few years you would rather... Thomas Hardy
The beggarly question of parentage--what is it, after all? What does it matter, when you come to think of it, whether a child is yours by blood or not? All the little ones of our time are collectively the children of us adults of the time, and entitled to our general care. That excessive regard of parents for their own children, and their dislike of other people's, is, like class-feeling, patriotism, save-your-own-soul-ism, and other virtues, a mean exclusiveness at bottom. Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy quote: "A woman would rather visit her own grave than the place where..."
A woman would rather visit her own grave than the place where she has been young and beautiful after she is aged and ugly. Thomas Hardy
Her companion, also in black, appeared as a well-formed young woman about 18, completely possessed of that ephemeral precious essence youth, which is itself beauty, irrespective of complexion or contour. Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy quote: "Poetry is emotion put into measure. The emotion must come by..."
Poetry is emotion put into measure. The emotion must come by nature, but the measure can be acquired by art. Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy quote: "Be a good boy, remember; and be kind to animals and birds, and..."
Be a good boy, remember; and be kind to animals and birds, and read all you can. Thomas Hardy
He Looked and smelt like Autumn's very brother, his face being sunburnt to wheat-colour, his eyes blue as corn-flowers, his sleeves and leggings dyed with fruit-stains, his hands clammy with the sweet juice of apples, his hat sprinkled with pips, and everywhere about him the sweet atmosphere of cider which at its first return each season has such an indescribable fascination for those who have been born and bred among the orchards. Thomas Hardy
whether to follow uncritically the track he finds himself in, without considering his aptness for it, or to consider what his aptness or bent may be, and reshape his course accordingly. I tried to do the latter, and I failed. But I don't admit that my failure proved my view to be a wrong one, or that my success would have made it a right one; though that's how we appraise such attempts nowadays. Thomas Hardy
Theirs was that substantial affection which arises (if any arises at all) when the two who are thrown together begin first by knowing the rougher sides of each other’s character, and not the best till further on, the romance growing up in the interstices of a mass of hard prosaic reality. Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy quote: "The pale lunar touches which make beauties of hags lent..."
The pale lunar touches which make beauties of hags lent divinity to this face, already beautiful. Thomas Hardy
Everybody must be managed. Queens must be managed. Kings must be managed, for men want managing almost as much as women, and that's saying a good deal. Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy quote: "Beauty lay not in the thing, but in what the thing symbolized."
Beauty lay not in the thing, but in what the thing symbolized. Thomas Hardy
At times her whimsical fancy would intensify natural processes around her till they seemed a part of her own story. Rather they became a part of it; for the world is only a psychological phenomenon, and what they seemed they were. Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy quote: "Time changes everything except something within us which is..."
Time changes everything except something within us which is always surprised by change. Thomas Hardy

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