Ann Radcliffe Quotes & Sayings

She had passed the spring of youth, but her wit prolonged the triumph of its reign, and they mutually assisted the fame of each other; for those, who were charmed by her loveliness, spoke with enthusiasm of her talents; and others, who admired her playful imagination, declared, that her personal graces were unrivalled. — Ann Radcliffe

But no matter for that, you can be tolerably happy, perhaps, notwithstanding; but as for guessing how happy I am, or knowing anything about the matter,
O! its quite beyond what you can understand. — Ann Radcliffe

A well-informed mind,' he would say, 'is the best security against the contagion of folly and of vice. The vacant mind is ever on the watch for relief, and ready to plunge into error, to escape from the languor of idleness. Store it with ideas, teach it the pleasure of thinking; and the temptations of the world without, will be counteracted by the gratifications derived from the world within. Thought, and cultivation, are necessary — Ann Radcliffe

Sentiment is a disgrace, instead of an ornament, unless it lead us to good actions. — Ann Radcliffe

Why all this terror?' said he, in a tremulous voice. 'Hear me, Emily: I come not to alarm you; no, by Heaven! I love you too well- too well for my own peace. — Ann Radcliffe

Towards evening, they wound down precipices, black with forest of cypress, pine and cedar, into a glen so savage and secluded, that, if Solicitude ever had local habitation, this might have been "her place of dearest residence — Ann Radcliffe

One act of beneficence, one act of real usefulness, is worth all the abstract sentiment in the world. — Ann Radcliffe

He was a descendant from the younger branch of an illustrious family, and it was designed, that the deficiency of his patrimonial wealth should be supplied either by a splendid alliance in marriage, or by success in the intrigues of public affairs. — Ann Radcliffe

There are some few instances in which it is virtuous to disobey. — Ann Radcliffe

There is something in the ardour and ingenousness of youth, which is particularly pleasing to the contemplation of an old man, if his feelings have not been entirely corroded by the world. — Ann Radcliffe

The refreshing pleasure from the first view of nature, after the pain of illness, and the confinement of a sick-chamber, is above the conceptions, as well as the descriptions, of those in health. — Ann Radcliffe

She wanted to complain, not to be consoled; and it was by exclamations of complaint only, Emily learned the particular circumstances of her affliction — Ann Radcliffe

And since, in our passage through this world, painful circumstances occur more frequently than pleasing ones, and since our sense of evil is, I fear, more acute than our sense of good, we become the victims of our feelings, unless we can in some degree command them. — Ann Radcliffe

But the obsessional work of cutting and pasting also enacts, in the most literal way possible, the generic annexation of the poetic by the novelistic. When — Ann Radcliffe

These scenes,' said Valancourt, at length, 'soften the heart, like the notes of sweet music, and inspire that delicious melancholy which no person, who had felt it once, would resign for the gayest pleasures. They waken our best and purest feelings, disposing us to benevolence, pity, and friendship. Those whom I love - I always seem to love more in such an hour as this.' His voice trembled, and he paused. — Ann Radcliffe

I ought not to doubt the steadiness of your affection. Yet such is the inconsistency of real love, that it is always awake to suspicion, however unreasonable; always requiring new assurances from the object of its interest, and thus it is, that i always feel revived, as by a new convinction, when your words tell me I am dear to you; and wanting these, I relapse into doubt and often into despondency. — Ann Radcliffe

He brought music of his own, and awakened every fairy echo with the tender accents of his oboe ... — Ann Radcliffe

You see how people get through their misfortunes, if they have but a heart to bear up against them, and do nothing that can lie on their conscience afterwards; and how suddenly one comes to be happy, just when one is beginning to think one never is to be happy again! ... who would have thought we should ever know what it is to be happy! Yet here we are all abroad once more! All at liberty! And may run, if we will, straight forward, from one end of the earth to the other, and back again without being stopped! May fly in the sea, or swim in the sky, or tumble over head and heels into the moon! For remember, my good friends, we have no lead in our consciences to keep us down! — Ann Radcliffe

The moon now drew a faint light over their path, and, soon after, enabled them to distinguish some towers rising above the tops of the woods. — Ann Radcliffe

The deepest shade of twilight did not send him from his favourite plane-tree. He loved the soothing hour, when the last tints of light die away; when the stars, one by one, tremble through aether, and are reflected on the dark mirror of the waters; that hour, which, of all others, inspires the mind with pensive tenderness, and often elevates it to sublime contemplation. When the moon shed her soft rays among the foliage, he still lingered, and his pastoral supper of cream and fruits was often spread beneath it. Then, on the stillness of night, came the song of the nightingale, breathing sweetness, and awakening melancholy. — Ann Radcliffe

The passions are the seeds of vices as well as of virtues, from which either may spring, accordingly as they are nurtured. Unhappy they who have never been taught the art to govern them! — Ann Radcliffe

Groves of orange and lemon perfumed the air, their ripe fruit glowing among the foliage; while, sloping to the plains, extensive vineyards spread their treasures. Beyond these, woods and pastures, and mingled towns and hamlets stretched towards the sea, on whose bright surface gleamed many a distant sail; while, over the whole scene was diffused the purple glow of evening. — Ann Radcliffe

As she mused upon the book before her, she involuntarily exclaimed, 'Are these, indeed, the passages, that have so often given me exquisite delight? Where did the charm exist? - Was it in my mind, or in the imagination of the poet? It lived in each,' said she, pausing. 'But the fire of the poet is vain, if the mind of his reader is not tempered like his own, however it may be inferior to his in power. — Ann Radcliffe

Poverty cannot deprive us of many consolations. It cannot rob us of the affection we have for each other, or degrade us in our own opinion, of in that of any person, whose opinion we ought to value. — Ann Radcliffe

Wisdom or accident, at length, recall us from our error, and offers to us some object capable of producing a pleasing, yet lasting effect, which effect, therefore, we call happiness. Happiness has this essential difference from what is commonly called pleasure, that virtue forms its basis, and virtue being the offspring of reason, may be expected to produce uniformity of effect. — Ann Radcliffe

There is no accounting for tastes. — Ann Radcliffe

He loved the soothing hour, when the last tints of light die away; when the stars, one by one, tremble through aether, and are reflected on the dark mirror of the waters; that hour, which, of all others, inspires the mind with pensive tenderness, and often elevates it to sublime contemplation. — Ann Radcliffe

Emily gazed long on the splendours of the world she was quitting, of which the whole magnificence seemed thus given to her sight only to increase her regret on leaving it; for her, Valancourt alone was in that world; to him alone her heart turned, and for him alone fell her bitter tears. — Ann Radcliffe

Never will I give my hand where my heart does not accompany it. — Ann Radcliffe

Employment is the surest antidote to sorrow. — Ann Radcliffe

Wisdom can boast no higher attainment than happiness. — Ann Radcliffe

When one can hear people moving, one does not so much mind, about one's fears. — Ann Radcliffe

Virtue and taste are nearly the same, for virtue is little more than active taste, and the most delicate affections of each combine in real love. — Ann Radcliffe

Do you believe your heart to be, indeed, so hardened, that you can look without emotion on the suffering, to which you would condemn me? — Ann Radcliffe

Ignorance of true pleasure more frequently than temptation to that which is false, leads to vice. — Ann Radcliffe

...but I desire i may no further be harassed, and i recommend it to you to retire to your chamber, and to endeavour to adopt a more retional conduct, than that yielding to fancies, and to a sensibility, which, to call it by the gentlest name, is only a weakness. — Ann Radcliffe

I never trust people's assertions, I always judge of them by their actions. — Ann Radcliffe

It was new to Emily to part with any person, with whom she was connected, without feeling of regret; the moment, however, in which she took leave of M. and Madame Quesnel, was, perhaps, the only satisfactory one she had known in their presence. — Ann Radcliffe

To discover depravity in those whom we have loved, is one of the most exquisite tortures to a virtuous mind, and the conviction is often rejected before it is finally admitted. — Ann Radcliffe

She knew nothing of the conduct of a mind, that fears to trust its own powers; which, possessing a nice judgment, and inclining to believe, that every other person perceives still more critically, fears to commit itself to censure, and seeks shelter in the obscurity of silence. — Ann Radcliffe

It is dismal coming home, when there is nobody to welcome one! — Ann Radcliffe

At first a small line of inconceivable splendour emerged on the horizon, which, quickly expanding, the sun appeared in all of his glory, unveiling the whole face of nature, vivifying every colour of the landscape, and sprinkling the dewy earth with glittering light. — Ann Radcliffe

Such is the inconsistency of real love, that it is always awake to suspicion, however unreasonable; always requiring new assurances from the object of its interest. — Ann Radcliffe

... unpacked her books, her sweet delight in happier days, and her soothing resource in the hours of moderate sorrow: but there were hours when even these failed of their effect; when the genius, the taste, the enthusiasm of the sublimest writers were felt no longer. — Ann Radcliffe

You speak like a heroine,' said Montoni, contemptuously; 'we shall see if you can suffer like one. — Ann Radcliffe

There is some comfort in dying surrounded by one's children. — Ann Radcliffe

When the mind has once begun to yield to the weakness of superstition, trifles impress it with the force of conviction. — Ann Radcliffe

Love cannot exist in a heart that has lost the meek dignity of innocence. — Ann Radcliffe

Fate sits on these dark battlements and frowns, And as the portal opens to receive me, A voice in hollow murmurs through the courts Tells of a nameless deed. — Ann Radcliffe

When her mind was discomposed ... a book was the opiate that lulled it to repose. — Ann Radcliffe

Vanity often produces unreasonable alarm. — Ann Radcliffe

There is some magic in wealth, which can thus make persons pay their court to it, when it does not even benefit themselves. — Ann Radcliffe

Radcliffe is the first important English novelist to use poetic epigraphs, interpolated poems, and poetic fragments decoratively, as it were, for their suggestive or mood-enhancing effects. (Matthew — Ann Radcliffe

What are riches - grandeur - health itself, to the luxury of a pure conscience, the health of the soul; - and what the sufferings of poverty, disappointment, despair - to the anguish of an afflicted one! — Ann Radcliffe

Her imagination was pleased with the view of ancient grandeur, and an emotion of melancholy awe awakened all its powers, as she walked through rooms, obscure and desolate, where no footsteps had passed probably for many years, and remembered the strange history of the former possessor of the edifice. This — Ann Radcliffe

When justice happens to oppose prejudice, we are apt to believe it virtuous to disobey her. — Ann Radcliffe

How strange it is, that a fool or a knave, with riches, should be treated with more respect by the world, than a good man, or a wise man in poverty! — Ann Radcliffe

To a generous mind few circumstances are more afflicting than a discovery of perfidy in those whom we have trusted ... — Ann Radcliffe

What has a man's face to do with his character? Can a man of good character help having a disagreeable face? — Ann Radcliffe

A well-informed mind is the best security against the contagion of folly and vice. The vacant mind is ever on the watch for relief, and ready to plunge into error, to escape from the languor of idleness. Store it with ideas, teach it the pleasure of thinking; and the temptations of the world without, will be counteracted by the gratifications derived from the world within. — Ann Radcliffe

How despicable is that humanity, which can be contented to pity, where it might assuage! — Ann Radcliffe

Happiness arises in a state of peace, not of tumult. — Ann Radcliffe

But St. Aubert had too much good sense to prefer a charm to a virtue ... — Ann Radcliffe

O! useful may it be to have shewn, that, though the vicious can sometimes pour affliction upon the good, their power is transient and their punishment certain; and that innocence, though oppressed by injustice, shall, supported by patience, finally triumph over misfortune!And, if the weak hand, that has recorded this tale, has, by its scenes, beguiled the mourner of one hour of sorrow, or, by its moral, taught him to sustain it - the effort, however humble, has not been vain, nor is the writer unrewarded. — Ann Radcliffe

Can this be in human nature! - Can such horrible perversion of right be permitted! Can man, who calls himself endowed with reason, and immeasurably superior to every other created being, argue himself into the commission of such horrible folly, such inveterate cruelty, as exceeds all the acts of the most irrational and ferocious brute. Brutes do not deliberately slaughter their species; it remains for man only, man, proud of his prerogative of reason, and boasting of his sense of justice, to unite the most terrible extremes of folly and wickedness! — Ann Radcliffe

I wish that all those, who on this night are not merry enough to speak before they think, may ever after be grave enough to think before they speak! — Ann Radcliffe

What is acquired without labor is seldom worth acquiring at all. — Ann Radcliffe

afflict; - he had become a clod of earth, and his life was vanished like a shadow! — Ann Radcliffe

How short a period often reverses the character of our sentiments, rendering that which yesterday we despised, today desirable. — Ann Radcliffe

I tasted too what was called the sweet of revenge - but it was transient, it expired even with the object, that provoked it. — Ann Radcliffe