'You are very much mistaken if you suppose that, because of one
failure, or of twenty failures, I would give up a principle.'

'Clara, you are a strange creature. Don't let us talk any more about
chess.'

Madge swept all the pieces with her hand into the box, shut it,
closed the board, and put her feet on the fender.

'You never believe in impulses or in doing a thing just because here
and now it appears to be the proper thing to do. Suppose anybody
were to make love to you--oh! how I wish somebody would, you dear
girl, for nobody deserves it more--' Madge put her head caressingly
on Clara's shoulder and then raised it again. 'Suppose, I say,
anybody were to make love to you, would you hold off for six months
and consider, and consider, and ask yourself whether he had such and
such virtues, and whether he could make you happy? Would not that
stifle love altogether? Would you not rather obey your first
impression and, if you felt you loved him, would you not say "Yes"?'

'Time is not everything. A man who is prompt and is therefore
thought to be hasty by sluggish creatures who are never half awake,
may in five minutes spend more time in consideration than his critics
will spend in as many weeks. I have never had the chance, and am not
likely to have it. I can only say that if it were to come to me, I
should try to use the whole strength of my soul. Precisely because
the question would be so important, would it be necessary to employ
every faculty I have in order to decide it. I do not believe in
oracles which are supposed to prove their divinity by giving no
reasons for their commands.'