All quotes

Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong!—I have as much soul as you,—and full as much heart!

I will be myself. Mr. Rochester, you must neither expect nor exact anything celestial of me—for you will not get it, any more than I shall get it of you: which I do not at all anticipate.

I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself.

Nature seemed to me benign and good; I thought she loved me, outcast as I was; and I, who from man could anticipate only mistrust, rejection, insult, clung to her with filial fondness.

But let me not hate and despise myself too much for these feelings; I know them to be wrong—that is a great step gained; I shall strive to overcome them.

I feel I have adequate cause to be happy, and I will be happy.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear; and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

Resolve to remain as strong, as determined and as highly enthused during the darkest night of adversity as you are during the sunniest day of prosperity.

The man who never weakens when things are against him will grow stronger and stronger until all things will delight to be for him.

And when you fall throughout life—and maybe even tonight after a few too many glasses of champagne—fall forward.

Every failed experiment is one step closer to success.

I want to fall… forward. At least I figure that way I’ll see what I’m about to hit.

I’ve found that nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks.

Never be discouraged. Never hold back. Give everything you’ve got.

You hang around a barbershop long enough—sooner or later you will get a haircut.

Wretch, you are carrying about a god with you, and you know it not.

I am by Nature made for my own good; not for my own evil.

If you have assumed a character beyond your strength, you have both played a poor figure in that, and neglected one that is within your powers.

Human effort is not futile, but man fights against the giant forces of Nature in a spirit of humility.

The demons of depression could find no foothold when he was around

If one asks for success and prepares for failure, he will get the situation he has prepared for.

Nothing stands between man and his highest ideals and every desire of his heart, but doubt and fear.

If I am a princess in rags and tatters, I can be a princess inside. It would be easy to be a princess if I were dressed in cloth of gold, but it is a great deal more of a triumph to be one all the time when no one knows it.

Whats'ever 'appens to you--whats'ever--you'd be a princess all the same--an' nothin' couldn't make you nothin' different.