2
" While he talked, however, he was criticising her, comparing the laziness of her attitude with the brisk and respectful alertness of other women when he talked. He knew that these other women belonged to a different class; his wife, the parson’s wife, the wives of the inspectors on other estates, these were not, of course, in the same sphere as the new mistress of Kleinwalde; but she was only a woman, and dress up a woman as you will, call her by what name you will, she is nothing but a woman, born to help and serve, never by any possibility even equal to a clever man like himself. "
― Elizabeth von Arnim , Complete Works of Elizabeth von Arnim
4
" Anna said to herself that this Spartan simplicity, this absence of every luxury that could still further soften an already languid and effeminate soul, was beautiful. Here, as in the whitewashed praying-places of the Puritans, if there were any beauty and any glory it must all come from within, be all of the spirit, be only the beauty of a clean life and the glory of kind thoughts. She pictured herself waking up in one of those unadorned beds with the morning sun shining on her face, and rising to go her daily round of usefulness in her quiet house, where there would be no quarrels, and no pitiful ambitions, and none of those many bitter heartaches that need never be. Would they not be happy days, those days of simple duties? "
― Elizabeth von Arnim , Complete Works of Elizabeth von Arnim
6
" Regarding this quality, which she possessed, as more precious than others which she did not possess, she was not likely to sympathise much either with Anna’s plan for making people happy, or with those who were willing to be made happy in such a way. A sensible woman, she thought, will always find work, and need not look far for a home. She herself had been handicapped in the search by her unfortunate title, yet with patience even she had found a haven. Only the lazy and lackadaisical, the morally worthless, that is, would, she was convinced, accept such an offer as Anna’s. It was not, however, her business. "
― Elizabeth von Arnim , Complete Works of Elizabeth von Arnim
15
" Oh, it was beautiful to stand at that open window in the freshness, listening to the robin on the bare lilac bush a few yards away, to the quarrelling of the impudent sparrows on the path below, to the wind in the branches of the trees, to all the happy morning sounds of nature. A joyous feeling took possession of her heart, a sudden overpowering delight in what are called common things — mere earth, sky, sun, and wind. How lovely life was on such a morning, in such a clean, rain-washed, wind-scoured world. "
― Elizabeth von Arnim , Complete Works of Elizabeth von Arnim
17
" And as for narrow circles, why, how happy, how gloriously happy, I could be outside them, if only I were independent!” “Independent — independent,” repeated Uncle Joachim testily, “always this same foolish word. What hast thou in thy head, child, thy pretty woman’s head, made, if ever head was, to lean on a good man’s shoulder?” “Oh — good men’s shoulders,” said Anna, shrugging her own, “I don’t want to lean on anybody’s shoulder. I want to hold my head up straight, all by itself. Do you then admire limp women, dear uncle, whose heads roll about all loose till a good man comes along and props them up? "
― Elizabeth von Arnim , Complete Works of Elizabeth von Arnim
18
" I would thump the cushions, and cry out, ‘Be independent, independent, independent! Don’t talk so much, and do more. Go your own way, and let your neighbour go his. Don’t meddle with other people when you have all your own work cut out for you being good yourself. Shake off all the props — —’” “Anna, thou art talking folly.” “‘ — shake them off, the props tradition and authority offer you, and go alone — crawl, stumble, stagger, but go alone. You won’t learn to walk without tumbles, and knocks, and bruises, but you’ll never learn to walk at all so long as there are props. "
― Elizabeth von Arnim , Complete Works of Elizabeth von Arnim
