If a path to the better there be, it begins with a full look at the worst. Thomas Hardy More Quotes by Thomas Hardy More Quotes From Thomas Hardy Time changes everything except something within us which is always surprised by change. Thomas Hardy surprise change time To dwellers in a wood, almost every species of tree has its voice as well as its feature. Thomas Hardy woods voice tree Do not do an immoral thing for moral reasons. Thomas Hardy ethics morality integrity Why is it that a woman can see from a distance what a man cannot see close? Thomas Hardy distance men Happiness is but a mere episode in the general drama of pain. Thomas Hardy episodes pain drama Remember that the best and greatest among mankind are those who do themselves no worldly good. Every successful man is more or less a selfish man. The devoted fail. Thomas Hardy selfish successful men You have never loved me as I love you--never--never! Yours is not a passionate heart--your heart does not burn in a flame! You are, upon the whole, a sort of fay, or sprite-- not a woman! Thomas Hardy flames love-you heart The sky was clear - remarkably clear - and the twinkling of all the stars seemed to be but throbs of one body, timed by a common pulse. Thomas Hardy pulse stars sky The sudden disappointment of a hope leaves a scar which the ultimate fulfillment of that hope never entirely removes. Thomas Hardy scar disappointment hope I may do some good before I am dead--be a sort of success as a frightful example of what not to do; and so illustrate a moral story. Thomas Hardy example stories may The main object of religion is not to get a man into heaven, but to get heaven into him. Thomas Hardy men heaven religion A strong woman who recklessly throws away her strength, she is worse than a weak woman who has never had any strength to throw away. Thomas Hardy tess-of-the-d-urbervilles strong-women strength Teach me to live, that I may dread The grave as little as my bed. Teach me to die. Thomas Hardy bed fear death And yet to every bad there is a worse. Thomas Hardy mind-opening criminal-mind criminals Women are so strange in their influence that they tempt you to misplaced kindness. Thomas Hardy strange influence kindness The perfect woman, you see [is] a working-woman; not an idler; not a fine lady; but one who [uses] her hands and her head and her heart for the good of others. Thomas Hardy perfect heart hands The beggarly question of parentage--what is it, after all? What does it matter, when you come to think of it, whether a child is yours by blood or not? All the little ones of our time are collectively the children of us adults of the time, and entitled to our general care. That excessive regard of parents for their own children, and their dislike of other people's, is, like class-feeling, patriotism, save-your-own-soul-ism, and other virtues, a mean exclusiveness at bottom. Thomas Hardy mean children thinking I shall do one thing in this life-one thing certain-this is, love you, and long of you, and keep wanting you till I die. Thomas Hardy wanting-you love-you long And at home by the fire, whenever you look up there I shall be— and whenever I look up, there will be you. -Gabriel Oak Thomas Hardy fire home looks Love is a possible strength in an actual weakness. Thomas Hardy weakness love-is
