Quote

I value my own independence so highly that I can fancy no degradation greater than that of having another man perpetually directing and advising and lecturing me, or even planning too closely in any way about my actions. He might be the wisest of men, or the most powerful - I should equally rebel and resent his interference.

Elizabeth Gaskell

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Elizabeth Gaskell
Age: 54 †
Born: 1810
Born: September 29
Died: 1865
Died: January 12
Biographer
Novelist
Writer
London
England
Author of Mary Barton
Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Elizabeth Cleghorn Stevenson
Mrs. Gaskell
née Stevenson
Even
Actions
Directing
Way
Value
Closely
Advising
Men
Greater
Rebel
Lecturing
Powerful
Highly
Perpetually
Values
Equally
Interference
Action
Fancy
Degradation
Another
Planning
Resent
Might
Independence
Wisest

More quotes by Elizabeth Gaskell

Image
I could wish there were a God, if it were only to ask him to bless thee.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Image
I won't say she was silly, but I think one of us was silly, and it wasn't me.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Image
But the trees were gorgeous in their autumnal leafiness - the warm odours of flowers and herb came sweet upon the sense.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Image
How different men were to women!
Elizabeth Gaskell
Image
Trust a girl of sixteen for knowing well if she is pretty concerning her plainness she may be ignorant.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Image
It is the first changes among familiar things that make such a mystery of time to the young afterwards we lose the sense of the mysterious. I take changes in all I see as a matter of course. The instability of all human things is familiar to me, to you it is new and oppressive. (Mr. Bell)
Elizabeth Gaskell
Image
What other people may think of the rightness or wrongness is nothing in comparison to my own deep knowledge, my innate conviction that it was wrong.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Image
But the monotonous life led by invalids often makes them like children, inasmuch as thy have neither of them any sense of proportion in events, and seem each to believe that the walls and curtains which shut in their world, and shut out everything else, must of necessity be larger than anything hidden beyond.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Image
A wise parent humors the desire for independent action, so as to become the friend and advisor when his absolute rule shall cease.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Image
That kind of patriotism which consists in hating all other nations.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Image
She never called her son by any name but John 'love' and 'dear', and such like terms, were reserved for Fanny.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Image
Man, through all ages of revolving time, Unchanging man, in every varying clime, Deems his own land of every land the pride, Beloved by heaven o'er all the world beside Home, the spot of earth supremely blest, A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Image
He came up straight to her father, whose hands he took and wrung without a word - holding them in his for a minute or two, during which time his face, his eyes, his look, told of more sympathy than could be put into words.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Image
And so she shuddered away from the threat of his enduring love. What did he mean? Had she not the power to daunt him? She would see. It was more daring than became a man to threaten her.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Image
I wanted to see the place where Margaret grew to what she is, even at the worst time of all, when I had no hope of ever calling her mine.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Image
I take it that 'gentleman' is a term that only describes a person in his relation to others but when we speak of him as 'a man,' we consider him not merely with regard to his fellow-men, but in relation to himself,--to life--to time--to eternity.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Image
I would far rather have two or three lilies of the valley gathered for me by a person I like, than the most expensive bouquet that could be bought!
Elizabeth Gaskell
Image
I say Gibson, we're old friends, and you're a fool if you take anything I say as an offense. Madam your wife and I didn't hit it off the only time I ever saw her. I won't say she was silly, but I think one of us was silly, and it wasn't me!
Elizabeth Gaskell
Image
..still to have loved her without return would have lifted you higher than all those, be they who they may, that have ever known her to love.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Image
I do not look on self-indulgent, sensual people as worthy of my hatred I simply look upon them with contempt for their poorness of character.
Elizabeth Gaskell