Samuel Richardson > Quotes

“I know not my own heart if it be not absolutely free.”
― Samuel Richardson, Clarissa, or the History of a Young Lady

“People of little understanding are most apt to be angry when their sense is called into question.”
― Samuel Richardson

“Be sure don't let people's telling you, you are pretty, puff you up; for you did not make yourself, and so can have no praise due to you for it. It is virtue and goodness only, that make the true beauty.”
― Samuel Richardson

“...for my master, bad as I have thought him, is not half so bad as this woman.--To be sure she must be an atheist!”
― Samuel Richardson, Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded

“Tired of myself longing for what I have not”
― Samuel Richardson, Clarissa, or the History of a Young Lady

“In other words, such is he desire which everyone has to exculpate himself by blackening his neighbour. You and I, Belford, have been very kind to the world in furnishing it with many opportunities to gratify its devil.”
― Samuel Richardson, Clarissa, or the History of a Young Lady

“Pray , Mr Tomlinson, be seated. He took his chair over against her. I stood behind hers, that I might give him agreed-upon signals should there be occasions for them.
A thus-A wink of the left eye was to signify, Push that point, captain.
A wink of the right, and a nod was to indicate approbation of what he said.
My forefinger held up, and biting my lip, Get off of that as fast as possible.
A right forward nod, and a frown-Swear to it Captain.
My whole spread hand, To take care not to say too much on that particuliar subject.”
― Samuel Richardson, Clarissa, or the History of a Young Lady

“By my soul, I can neither eat, drink, nor sleep; nor, what's still worse, love any woman in the world but her.”
― Samuel Richardson, Clarissa, or the History of a Young Lady

“For love must be a very foolish thing to look back upon, when it has brought persons born to affluence into indigence, and laid a generous mind under obligation and dependence.”
― Samuel Richardson, Clarissa Harlowe; Or, the History of a Young Lady - Volume 1

“Have I nothing new, nothing diverting, in my whimsical way, thou askest in one of thy letters to entertain thee with? and thou tellest me that, when I have least to narrate, to speak in the scottish phrase, I am most diverting, a pretty compliment either to thyself , or to me, to both indeed! a sign that thou hast as frothy a heart as I a head !”
― Samuel Richardson, Clarissa, or the History of a Young Lady

“I was exceedingly affected, says he, upon the occasion. But was ashamed to be surprised by her into such a fit of unmanly weakness-so ashamed that I was resolved to subdue it at the instant, and guard against the like for the future. Yet, at that moment, I more than half regretted that I could not permit her to enjoy a triumph which she so well deserved to glory in-her youth, her beauty, her artless innocence, and her manner, equally beyond comparison or description. But her indifference, Belford!-That she could resolve to sacrifice me to the malice of my enemies; and carry on the design in so clandestine a manner-yet love her, as I do, to frenzy!-revere her, as I do, to adoration!-These were the recollections with which I fortified my recreant heart against her-Yet, after all, if she persevere, she must conquer!-Coward, as she has made me, that never was a coward before!”
― Samuel Richardson, Clarissa Harlowe or the History of a Young Lady, V1