Jane Eyre Quotes

“And it is you, spirit--with will and energy, and virtue and purity--that I want, not alone with your brittle frame.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“Thank you, Mr. Rochester, for your great kindness. I am strangely glad to get back again to you: and wherever you are is my home—my only home.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“I see at intervals the glance of a curious sort of bird through the close set bars of a cage: a vivid, restless, resolute captive is there; were it but free, it would soar cloud-high.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“A great deal; you are good to those who are good to you. It is all I ever desire to be. If people were always kind and obedient to those who are cruel and unjust, the wicked people would have it all their own way; they would never feel afraid, and so they would never alter, but would grow worse and worse. When we are struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard; I am sure we should - so hard as to teach the person who struck us never to do it again.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“Mr. Rochester, I no more assign this fate to you than I grasp at it for myself. We were born to strive and endure - you as well as I: do so. You will forget me before I forget you.”
― Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre

“Beauty is in the eye of the gazer.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“I liked my name pronounced by your lips in a grateful, happy accent.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“It is a long way off, sir"
"From what Jane?"
"From England and from Thornfield: and ___"
"Well?"
"From you, sir”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“Your will shall decide your destiny.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“And your will shall decide your destiny," he said: "I offer you my hand, my heart, and a share of all my possessions."

You play a farce, which I merely laugh at. "

I ask you to pass through life at my side--to be my second self, and best earthly companion. "

For that fate you have already made your choice, and must abide by it. "

Jane, be still a few moments: you are over-excited: I will be still too. "

A waft of wind came sweeping down the laurel-walk, and trembled through the boughs of the chestnut: it wandered away--away--to an indefinite distance--it died. The nightingale's song was then the only voice of the hour: in listening to it, I again wept. Mr. Rochester sat quiet, looking at me gently and seriously. Some time passed before he spoke; he at last said -

Come to my side, Jane, and let us explain and understand one another. "

I will never again come to your side: I am torn away now, and cannot return. "

But, Jane, I summon you as my wife: it is you only I intend to marry. "

I was silent: I thought he mocked me.

Come, Jane--come hither. "

Your bride stands between us. "

He rose, and with a stride reached me.

My bride is here, "he said, again drawing me to him," because my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane, will you marry me?”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“To prolong doubt was to prolong hope.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“I thank my Maker, that in the midst of judgment he has remembered mercy. I humbly entreat my Redeemer to give me strength to lead henceforth a purer life than I have done hitherto.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“You, Jane, I must have you for my own--entirely my own.”
― Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre

“He made me love him without looking at me.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“I'll walk where my own nature would be leading. It vexes me to choose another guide.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“Then you and I should bid good-bye for a little while?"
I suppose so, sir. "
And how do people perform that ceremony of parting, Jane? Teach me; I'm not quite up to it. "
They say, Farewell, or any other form they prefer. "
Then say it. "
Farewell, Mr. Rochester, for the present. "
What must I say? "
The same, if you like, sir. "
Farewell, Miss Eyre, for the present; is that all? "
Yes. "
It seems stingy, to my notions, and dry, and unfriendly. I should like something else: a little addition to the rite. If one shook hands for instance; but no--that would not content me either. So you'll do nothing more than say Farwell, Jane? "
It is enough, sir; as much good-will may be conveyed in one hearty word as in many. "
Very likely; but it is blank and cool--'Farewell.”
― Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre

“A beauty neither of fine colour nor long eyelash, nor pencilled brow, but of meaning, of movement, of radiance.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“I am paving hell with energy... I am laying down good intentions which I believe durable as flint.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“No reflection was to be allowed now, not one glance was to be cast back; not even one forward. Not one thought was to be given either to the past or the future. The first was a page so heavenly sweet, so deadly sad, that to read one line of it would dissolve my courage and break down my energy. The last was an awful blank, something like then world when the deluge was gone by.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“Jane: Mr. Rochester, if ever I did a good deed in my life-if ever I thought a good thought-if ever I prayed a sincere and blameless prayer-if ever I wished a righteous wish-I am rewarded now. To be your wife is, for me, to be as happy as I can be on earth.
Mr. Rochester: Because you delight in sacrifice.
Jane: Sacrifice! What do I sacrifice? Famine for food, expectation for content. To be privileged to put my arms round what I value-to press my lips to what I love-to repose on what I trust: is that to make a sacrifice? If so, then certainly I delight in sacrifice.”
― Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre

“Make my happiness--I will make yours.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“Jane, I never meant to wound you thus...Will you ever forgive me?"

Reader, I forgave him at the moment and on the spot.”
― Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre

“To women who please me only by their faces, I am the very devil when I find out they have neither souls nor hearts — when they open to me a perspective of flatness, triviality, and perhaps imbecility, coarseness, and ill-temper: but to the clear eye and eloquent tongue, to the soul made of fire, and the character that bends but does not break — at once supple and stable, tractable and consistent — I am ever tender and true. (Mr Rochester to Jane)”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“Mademoiselle is a fairy," he said, whispering mysteriously.”
― Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre

“Oh! that gentleness! how far more potent is it than force!”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“When you are inquisitive, Jane, you always make me smile. You open your eyes like an eager bird, and make every now and then a restless movement, as if answers in speech did not flow fast enough for you, and you wanted to read the tablet of one's heart.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“What necessity is there to dwell on the Past, when the Present is so much surer-the Future so much brighter?”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“I envy you your peace of mind, your clean conscience, your unpolluted memory. Little girl, a memory without blot of contamination must be an exquisite treasure-an inexhaustible source of pure refreshment: is it not?”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“To talk to each other is but a more animated and an audible thinking.”
― Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre

“It is a very strange sensation to inexperience youth to feel itself quite alone the world, cut adrift from every connection, uncertain whether the port to which it is bound can be reached, and prevented by many impediments from returning to that it has quitted. The charm of adventure sweetens that sensation, the glow of pride warms it; but then the throb of fear disturbs it; and fear with me became predominant when half an hour elapsed, and still I was alone.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre