Tess of the D'Urbervilles Quotes

'She was a...

'She was a fine handsome girl... her mobile peony mouth and large innocent eyes'

'The pointed...

'The pointed shaft of the cart had entered the breast of the unhappy Prince'

'Why, I danced...

'Why, I danced and laughed only yesterday... I was such a fool'

'Nobody...

'Nobody blamed her as she blamed herself'

'Swarthy...

'Swarthy complexion... the touches of barbarism in his contours'

'Well, my...

'Well, my big Beauty'

'Tess wished...

'Tess wished to abridge her visit as much as possible'

'The young man...

'The young man was pressing'

'She had hoped...

'She had hoped to be a teacher at the school, but the fates seemed to decide otherwise'

'Drove rapidly...

'Drove rapidly along the crest of the first hill, chatting compliments to Tess'

'She grasped...

'She grasped his waist, and so they reached the bottom'

'I'll stand on this side...

'I'll stand on this side of the wire-netting, and you can keep on the other; so you may feel quite safe'

'The girl had an impression...

'The girl had an impression that the toes of a pair of boots were visible below the fringe of the curtains'

'She was so tired...

'She was so tired after her long day and her walk that she confided her trouble to him'

'"Out of the...

'"Out of the frying-pan into the fire!"'

'How can I say...

'How can I say yes or no when-'

'Tessy-...

'Tessy- don't you love me ever so little now?'

'He went to the horse,...

'He went to the horse, took a druggists bottle... opening it held it to her mouth unawares'

'Why it was that upon this beautiful feminine tissue...

'Why it was that upon this beautiful feminine tissue... there should have been traced such a coarse pattern as it was doomed to receive'

'I suppose I am a bad fellow...

'I suppose I am a bad fellow... I was born bad, and I have lived bad, and I shall die bad in all probability'

'Why didn't ye think...

'Why didn't ye think of doing some good for your family instead o' thinking only of yourself?'

'Why didn't you tell me...

'Why didn't you tell me there was danger? Why didn't you warn me?'

'Her depression...

'Her depression was then terrible, and she could have hidden herself in a tomb'

'O merciful God...

'O merciful God, have pity; have pity upon my poor baby!'

'And buried...

'And buried... in that shabby corner of God's allotment where He lets the nettles grow'

'Tess felt the pulse...

'Tess felt the pulse of hopeful life still warm within her; she might be happy in some nook which had no memories'

'Tess has never...

'Tess has never in her recent life been so happy as she was now'

'Marry one of them...

'Marry one of them, if you really do want a dairywoman and not a lady; and don't think of marrying me!'

'for she is...

'for she is a cottager's daughter, as I am proud to say'

'The sound of her own decision...

'The sound of her own decision seemed to break Tess's very heart, and she bowed her face in her grief'

'Don't ask me...

'Don't ask me. I told you- partly. I am not good enough- not worthy enough'

'I know you to be...

'I know you to be the most honest, spotless creature that ever lived'

'She loved him...

'She loved him so passionately, and he was godlike in her eyes'

'Tess, you must...

'Tess, you must spell your name correctly- D'Urbiville- from this very day'

'For she you love...

'For she you love is not my real self, but one in my image; the one I might have been!'

'Oh, Angel- I am almost glad...

'Oh, Angel- I am almost glad- because now you can forgive me! I have not made my confession. I have a confession too- remember, I said so'

'Each diamond...

'Each diamond on her neck gave a sinister wink like a toad's'

'You were one...

person; now you are another'

'What have I done...

what have I done?... You don't think I planned it, do you?'

'Of putting...

an end to myself'

'I was afraid that...

it might cause a scandal to your name'

'O you little...

fool- you little fool'

'O, she could not...

live long at home!'

'She is...

spotless!'

'In considering what Tess was not...

he overlooked what she was, and forgot that the defective can be more than the entire'

'Because nobody could love 'ee more...

than Tess did!... She would have laid down her life for 'ee. I could do no more'

'Tess's first thought was to put...

the still-living birds out of their torture, and to this end with her own hands she broke the necks of as many as she could find'

'With her little scissors...

... she mercilessly nipped her eyebrows off, and thus insured against aggressive admiration'

'Throwing himself away...

upon a dairymaid... his ill-considered marriage'

'Here's a pair of old...

boots... Thrown away, I suppose, by some tramp or other'

'When you know what harm you've done me!...

You, and those like you, take your fill of pleasure on earth by making the life of such as me bitter and black with sorrow; and then it is a fine thing... to think of securing your pleasure in heaven by becoming converted!'

'Struck him...

on the mouth'

'I will be your master...

again. If you are any man's wife you are mine!'

'I will accept...

nothing from you, either for them or for me!'

'Mother is took very...

bad, and the doctor says she's dying, and as father is not very well neither'

'The steel prongs...

of his fork as from her own... The fire flared up, and she beheld the face of D'Urberville'

'Why am I...

on the wrong side of this door!'

'Their every idea was...

temporary and unforefending, like the plans of two children'

'O, Angel- I wish you...

would marry her if you lose me, as you will do shortly'

'I am...

ready'

'"Justice"...

was done'

‘She felt that…

she could come to church no more’