Charles Cowden Clarke

“ And he who demands praise of his gentility because he comes of a high family, having noble and virtuous ancestors, yet himself performs no deeds of gentleness, is no gentleman, duke or earl though he be; for deeds of villany constitute the base-born man. Gentility is but the renown of your ancestors on account of their signal goodness, and which is foreign to your individual self. Your gentility, like theirs, proceeds from God only. He is nobly born who performs noble deeds. ”

“ Integrity of character seldom springs of its own accord in a man's descendants. We derive our gentle birth from the goodness of God only; from our ancestors we claim nothing but temporal benefits, which man may destroy. If gentleness of demeanour were implanted in a certain lineage, then would no one of that descent commit an act of villany. ”

“ I tell you that such arrogance is not worth a straw. He who secretly, and in the open face of day is most virtuous, who seeks to perform all the noble deeds in his power, is the most perfect gentleman. ”

“ Cheerful poverty is doubtless an honest thing: and I hold him rich who considers himself repaid for his poverty in other gifts, although he have no shirt to his back: while the covetous man is really poor, for he would possess that which he cannot attain: but he who possesses nothing, yet covets nothing, is rich, although you esteem him but a knave. ”

“ The Knight was married privately the next morning, and all the day, like an owl, hid himself for vexation at the deformity of his wife. And at night when they were in bed he tossed and tumbled about in disgust; the old woman all the while lay smiling by his side. 'My dear husband,' said she, 'does every gallant Knight treat his newly made wife in this kind and graceful manner? Is this the custom of King Arthur's Court? Is every Knight in his train so sparing of courtesy and tenderness? I am your own love and your wife ”

“ Attention and assiduity are the surest lime-twigs to our hearts. Some said, we most love to be free to follow our own inclinations; moreover, to be esteemed wise, and not to be reproved for our faults; for in truth, there is not one of the sisterhood who, if she be fretted on a tender point, will not turn again ”

“ The Knight was sorely perplexed with the condition of his sentence; so after much consideration, he resolved to leave the Court, and travel till the year's end; hoping that in the course of his adventures he might receive the help he required. From town to town, and house to house he went, wherever he thought to learn 'what women most desire:' but with all his pains he could not find two people of one mind in the matter. Some said, women love wealth better than anything else ”