Quotes and Images From the Works of John Galsworthy

By the cigars they smoke, and the composers they love

Change – for there never was any – always upset her very much

Charm; and the quieter it was, the more he liked it

Compassion was checked by the tone of that close voice

Conceived for that law a bitter distaste

Conscious beauty

Detached and brotherly attitude towards his own son

Did not mean to try and get out of it by vulgar explanation

Did not want to be told of an infirmity

Dislike of humbug

Dogs: with rudiments of altruism and a sense of God

Don't care whether we're right or wrong

Don't hurt others more than is absolutely necessary

Early morning does not mince words

Era which had canonised hypocrisy

Evening not conspicuous for open-heartedness

Everything in life he wanted – except a little more breath

Fatigued by the insensitive, he avoided fatiguing others

Felt nearly young

Forgiven me; but she could never forget

Forsytes always bat

Free will was the strength of any tie, and not its weakness

Get something out of everything you do

Greater expense can be incurred for less result than anywhere

Hard-mouthed women who laid down the law

He could not plead with her; even an old man has his dignity

He saw himself reflected: An old-looking chap

Health – He did not want it at such cost

Horses were very uncertain

I have come to an end; if you want me, here I am

I never stop anyone from doing anything

I shan't marry a good man, Auntie, they're so dull!

If not her lover in deed he was in desire

Importance of mundane matters became increasingly grave

Intolerable to be squeezed out slowly, without a say yourself

Ironical, which is fatal to expansiveness

Ironically mistrustful

Is anything more pathetic than the faith of the young?

It was their great distraction: To wait!

Know how not to grasp and destroy!

Law takes a low view of human nature

Let her come to me as she will, when she will

Little notion of how to butter her bread

Living on his capital

Longing to escape in generalities beset him

Love has no age, no limit; and no death

Man had money, he was free in law and fact

Ministered to his daughter's love of domination

More spiritual enjoyment of his coffee and cigar

Never give himself away