Tess of the d'Urbervilles Quotes

Quote 1: "I don't know; but I think so. They sometimes seem to be like the apples on our stubbard-tree. Most of them splendid and sound - a few blighted." Chapter 4, Pg. 25

Quote 2: "I won't sell his old body. When we d'Urbervilles was knights in the land, we didn't sell our chargers for cat's meat. Let 'em keep their shillings! He've served me well in his lifetime, and I won't part from him now." Chapter 4, Pg. 29

Quote 3: "Thus, the thing began. Had she perceived this meeting's import she might have asked why she was doomed to be seen and coveted that day by the wrong man, and not by some other man, the right and desired one in all respects, . . ." Chapter 5, Pg. 37

Quote 4: "Out of the frying pan into the fire!" Chapter 10, Pg. 66

Quote 5: "But some might say, where was Tess 's guardian Angel ? Where was the providence of her simple faith? Perhaps, . . . he was talking, or he was pursuing, or he was in a journey, or he was sleeping and not to be awaked . . .. As Tess 's own people down in those retreats are never tired of saying among each other in their fatalistic way: 'It was to be.'" Chapter 11, Pg. 71-2

Quote 6: "THY, DAMNATION, SLUMBERETH, NOT. 2 Pet. ii. 3," Chapter 12, Pg. 78

Quote 7: "My life looks as if it had been wasted for want of chances! When I see what you know, what you have read, and seen, and thought, I feel what a nothing I am!" Chapter 19, Pg. 124

Quote 8: "I can't bear to let anybody have him but me! Yet it is wrong Tess him, and may kill him when he knows!" Chapter 28, Pg. 175

Quote 9: "Yes; at that dance on the green; but you would not dance with me. O, I hope that is no ill-omen for us now!" Chapter 30, Pg. 188

Quote 10: "[t]hat it would always be summer and autumn, and you always courting me, and always thinking as much of me as you have done through the past summertime!" Chapter 32, Pg. 199

Quote 11: "[he] did not mention it because [he] was afraid of endangering [his] chance of [her], . . . the great prize of [his] life." Chapter 34, Pg. 221

Quote 12: "You are very good. But it strikes me that there is a want of harmony between your present mood of self-sacrifice and your past mood of self-preservation." Chapter 35, Pg. 226

Quote 13: "I agree to the conditions, Angel; because you know best what my punishment ought to be; only - only - don't make it more than I can bear!" Chapter 37, Pg. 249

Quote 14: "nobody could love 'ee more than Tess did! . . . She would have laid down her life for 'ee. I could do no more." Chapter 40, Pg. 265

Quote 15: "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, when you have had enough of that, to think of securing your pleasure in heaven by becoming converted!" Chapter 45, Pg. 303

Quote 16: "How can I pray for you, when I am forbidden to believe that the great Power who moves the world would alter his plans on my account?" Chapter 46, Pg. 314

Quote 17: "'You have been the cause of my backsliding,' he continued, stretching his arm towards her waist; 'you should be willing to share it, and leave that mule you call husband forever.'" Chapter 47, Pg. 325

Quote 18: "Remember, my lady, I was your master once! I will be your master again. If you are any man's wife you are mine!" Chapter 47, Pg. 326

Quote 19: "O why have you treated me so monstrously, Angel ! I do not deserve it. I have thought it all over carefully, and I can never, never forgive you! You know that I did not intend to wrong you - why have you so wronged me? You are cruel, cruel indeed! I will try to forget you. It is all injustice I have received at your hands!" Chapter 51, Pg. 350

Quote 20: "[t]oo late, too late!."Chapter 55, Pg. 371

Quote 21: "his original Tess had spiritually ceased to recognize the body before him as hers - allowing it to drift, like a corpse upon the current, in a direction disassociated from its living will." Chapter 55, Pg. 372

Quote 22: "O, you have torn my life all to pieces . . . made me be what I prayed you in pity not to make me be again!" Chapter 56, Pg. 374

Quote 23: "[T]he President of the Immortals, . . . had ended his sport with Tess . And the d'Urberville knights and dames slept on in their tombs unknowing." Chapter 59, Pg. 390