If all the world hated you, and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved you, and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends.
 Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre (16 October 1847). copy citation

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Author Charlotte Brontë
Source Jane Eyre
Topic friendship guilt hate
Date 16 October 1847
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1260/1260-h/1260-h.htm

Context

“Teachers and pupils may look coldly on you for a day or two, but friendly feelings are concealed in their hearts; and if you persevere in doing well, these feelings will ere long appear so much the more evidently for their temporary suppression. Besides, Jane»—she paused.
«Well, Helen?» said I, putting my hand into hers: she chafed my fingers gently to warm them, and went on—
«If all the world hated you, and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved you, and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends.»
«No; I know I should think well of myself; but that is not enough: if others don't love me I would rather die than live—I cannot bear to be solitary and hated, Helen. Look here; to gain some real affection from you, or Miss Temple, or any other whom I truly love, I would willingly submit to have the bone of my arm broken, or to let a bull toss me, or to stand behind a kicking horse, and let it dash its hoof at my chest—»” source

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