All Jane Eyre Quotes Chapters 1-10

Wicked and cruel boy!

Jane Eyre to John Reed

You are like a murderer—you are like a slave-driver—you are like the Roman emperors!

Jane Eyre to John Reed

Master! How is he my master? Am I a servant?

Jane Eyre to Miss Abbot

"What does Bessie say I have done?"

Jane Eyre to Mrs. Reed

Who could want me?"

Jane to Herself

"I must keep in good health, and not die."

Jane to Mr. Brocklehurst

"Psalms are not interesting," "That proves you have a wicked heart; and you must pray to God to change it: to give you a new and clean one: to take away your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

Jane to Mr. Brocklehurst Mr. Brocklehurst to Jane

"For one thing, I have no father or mother, brothers or sisters." "You have a kind aunt and cousins." "But John Reed knocked me down, and my aunt shut me up in the red-room." "Don't you think Gateshead Hall a very beautiful house?" "Are you not very thankful to have such a fine place to live at?" "It is not my house, sir; and Abbot says I have less right to be here than a servant." "Pooh! you can't be silly enough to wish to leave such a splendid place?" "If I had anywhere else to go, I should be glad to leave it; but I can never get away from Gateshead till I am a woman."

Jane to Mr. Lloyd Mr. Lloyd to Jane Jane to Mr. Lloyd Mr. Lloyd to Jane Jane to Mr. Lloyd Mr. Lloyd to Jane Jane to Mr. Lloyd

"What would Uncle Reed say to you, if he were alive?" "What?" "My Uncle Reed is in heaven, and can see all you do and think; and so can papa and mama: they know how you shut me up all day long, and how you wish me dead."

Jane to Mrs. Reed Mrs. Reed to Jane Jane to Mrs. Reed

They are not fit to associate with me."

Jane to all, Reed family/ Mrs. Reed

"What should I see besides Aunt Reed in the apartment?—a man or a woman?"

Jane to herself

Benefactress! benefactress!" "they all call Mrs. Reed my benefactress; if so, a benefactress is a disagreeable thing."

Jane to herself

Boh! Madam Mope!

John Reed to Jane Eyre

I want you to come here;

John Reed to Jane Eyre

Rat! Rat!

John Reed to Jane Eyre

Say, 'What do you want, Master Reed?

John Reed to Jane Eyre

Show the book.

John Reed to Jane Eyre

That is for your impudence in answering mama awhile since, and for your sneaking way of getting behind curtains, and for the look you had in your eyes two minutes since, you rat!

John Reed to Jane Eyre

What were you doing behind the curtain?

John Reed to Jane Eyre

You have no business to take our books; you are a dependent, mama says; you have no money; your father left you none; you ought to beg, and not to live here with gentlemen's children like us, and eat the same meals we do, and wear clothes at our mama's expense. Now, I'll teach you to rummage my bookshelves: for they are mine; all the house belongs to me, or will do in a few years. Go and stand by the door, out of the way of the mirror and the windows.

John Reed to Jane Eyre

What! what! Did she say that to me? Did you hear her, Eliza and Georgiana? Won't I tell mama? but first—

John Reed to Jane Eyre, Eliza, and Georgiana?

Joan is not here: tell mama she is run out into the rain—bad animal!

John Reed to Lizzy and Georgy (his sisters)

Where the dickens is she!

John Reed to himself?

It is well I drew the curtain

Jane Eyre thinks to herself

Don't take them off, I will not stir.

Jane Eyre to Bessie

I was reading.

Jane Eyre to John Reed

What do you want?

Jane Eyre to John Reed

Her size is small: what is her age?" "Ten years." "So much?" —"Your name, little girl?" "Jane Eyre, sir." "Well, ___, and are you a good child?" , "Perhaps the less said on that subject the better, " "Sorry indeed to hear it! she and I must have some talk;" "Come here,"

Mr. Brocklehurst to Mrs. Reed Mrs. Reed to Mr. Brocklehurst Mr. Brocklehurst to Mrs. Reed Mr. Brocklehurst to Jane Jane to Mr. Brocklehurst Mr. Brocklehurst to Jane Mrs. Reed to Mr. Brocklehurst Mr. Brocklehurst to Mrs. Reed Mr. Brocklehurst to Jane

"What made you ill yesterday?" "She had a fall," "Fall! why, that is like a baby again! Can't she manage to walk at her age? She must be eight or nine years old." "I was knocked down,"but that did not make me ill," "That's for you, nurse," "you can go down; I'll give Miss ___ a lecture till you come back."

Mr. Lloyd to Jane Bessie to Mr. Lloyd Mr. Lloyd to Bessie Jane to Mr. Lloyd Mr. Lloyd to Bessie

"The fall did not make you ill; what did, then?" "I was shut up in a room where there is a ghost till after dark." "Ghost! What, you are a baby after all! You are afraid of ghosts?" "Of Mr. Reed's ghost I am: he died in that room, and was laid out there. Neither Bessie nor any one else will go into it at night, if they can help it; and it was cruel to shut me up alone without a candle,—so cruel that I think I shall never forget it." "Nonsense! And is it that makes you so miserable? Are you afraid now in daylight?" "No: but night will come again before long: and besides,—I am unhappy,—very unhappy, for other things." "What other things? Can you tell me some of them?"

Mr. Lloyd to Jane Jane to Mr. Lloyd Mr. Lloyd to Jane Jane to Mr. Lloyd Mr. Lloyd to Jane Jane to Mr. Lloyd Mr. Lloyd to Jane

Perhaps you may—who knows? Have you any relations besides Mrs. Reed?" "I think not, sir." "None belonging to your father?" "I don't know: I asked Aunt Reed once, and she said possibly I might have some poor, low relations called Eyre, but she knew nothing about them." "If you had such, would you like to go to them?" "No; I should not like to belong to poor people," was my reply. "Not even if they were kind to you?" "But are your relatives so very poor? Are they working people?" "I cannot tell; Aunt Reed says if I have any, they must be a beggarly set: I should not like to go a begging."

Mr. Lloyd to Jane Jane to Mr. Lloyd Mr. Lloyd to Jane Jane to Mr. Lloyd Mr. Lloyd to Jane Jane to Mr. Lloyd Mr. Lloyd to Jane Mr. Lloyd to Jane Jane to Mr. Lloyd

"Would you like to go to school?" "I should indeed like to go to school," "Well, well! who knows what may happen?" "The child ought to have change of air and scene," ; "nerves not in a good state." "Is that your mistress, nurse?" . "I should like to speak to her before I go."

Mr. Lloyd to Jane Jane to Mr. Lloyd Mr. Lloyd to Jane Mr. Lloyd to himself Mr. Lloyd to Bessie

Well, who am I?" "We shall do very well by-and-by."

Mr. Lloyd to Jane Eyre Mr. Lloyd to Jane Eyre

Take her away to the red-room, and lock her in there

Mrs. Reed to Bessie and/or Maid Abbot?

"Jane, I don't like cavillers or questioners; besides, there is something truly forbidding in a child taking up her elders in that manner. Be seated somewhere; and until you can speak pleasantly, remain silent."

Mrs. Reed to Jane Eyre

"She regretted to be under the necessity of keeping me at a distance; but that until she heard from Bessie, and could discover by her own observation, that I was endeavouring in good earnest to acquire a more sociable and childlike disposition, a more attractive and sprightly manner—something lighter, franker, more natural, as it were—she really must exclude me from privileges intended only for contented, happy, little children."

Mrs. Reed to Jane Eyre

I mention this in your hearing, ___, that you may not attempt to impose on ___

Mrs. Reed to Jane, about who

Don't talk to me about her,___I told you not to go near her; she is not worthy of notice; I do not choose that either you or your sisters should associate with her."

Mrs. Reed to John Reed

I believe I intimated in the letter which I wrote to you three weeks ago, that this little girl has not quite the character and disposition I could wish: should you admit her into Lowood school, I should be glad if the superintendent and teachers were requested to keep a strict eye on her, and, above all, to guard against her worst fault, a tendency to deceit.

Mrs. Reed to Mr. Brocklehurst

This is the little girl respecting whom I applied to you

Mrs. Reed to Mr. Brocklehurst about Jane

Good night, Miss Jane

Bessie to Jane

In the days when we went gipsying,A long time ago." "My feet they are sore, and my limbs they are weary;Long is the way, and the mountains are wild;Soon will the twilight close moonless and drearyOver the path of the poor orphan child. Why did they send me so far and so lonely,Up where the moors spread and grey rocks are piled?Men are hard-hearted, and kind angels onlyWatch o'er the steps of a poor orphan child. Yet distant and soft the night breeze is blowing,Clouds there are none, and clear stars beam mild,God, in His mercy, protection is showing,Comfort and hope to the poor orphan child. Ev'n should I fall o'er the broken bridge passing,Or stray in the marshes, by false lights beguiled,Still will my Father, with promise and blessing,Take to His bosom the poor orphan child. There is a thought that for strength should avail me,Though both of shelter and kindred despoiled;Heaven is a home, and a rest will not fail me;God is a friend to the poor orphan child."

Bessie to Jane

take off your pinafore; what are you doing there? Have you washed your hands and face this morning?" I "No, ___; I have only just finished dusting." "Troublesome, careless child! and what are you doing now? You look quite red, as if you had been about some mischief: what were you opening the window for?"

Bessie to Jane Jane to Bessie Bessie to Jane

Come, ___, don't cry," "What, already up!" "Well, nurse, how is she?" "Then she ought to look more cheerful. Come here, Miss ___: your name is ___, is it not?" "Yes, sir, ___." "Well, you have been crying, Miss ___; can you tell me what about? Have you any pain?" "No, sir." "Oh! I daresay she is crying because she could not go out with Missis in the carriage," "Surely not! why, she is too old for such pettishness." "I never cried for such a thing in my life: I hate going out in the carriage. I cry because I am miserable." "Oh fie, Miss!"

Bessie to Jane Mr. LLoyd to Bessie and Jane Mr. Lloyd to Bessie and Jane Jane to Mr. Llord Mr. Lloyd to Jane Jane to Mr. Lloyd Bessie to Mr. Lloyd Mr. Lloyd to Jane Jane to Bessie and Mr. Lloyd Bessie to Jane

If you don't sit still, you must be tied down

Bessie to Jane Eyre

Mind you don't

Bessie to Jane Eyre

She never did so before,

Bessie to Jane Eyre

What we tell you is for your good, you should try to be useful and pleasant, then, perhaps, you would have a home here; but if you become passionate and rude, Missis will send you away, I am sure.

Bessie to Jane Eyre

You ought to be aware, Miss, that you are under obligations to Mrs. Reed: she keeps you: if she were to turn you off, you would have to go to the poorhouse.

Bessie to Jane Eyre

"___, are you ill?" "What a dreadful noise! it went quite through me!" "Take me out! Let me go into the nursery!" "What for? Are you hurt? Have you seen something?" "Oh! I saw a light, and I thought a ghost would come." "She has screamed out on purpose," "And what a scream! If she had been in great pain one would have excused it, but she only wanted to bring us all here: I know her naughty tricks." "What is all this?" "Abbot and Bessie, I believe I gave orders that Jane Eyre should be left in the red-room till I came to her myself."

Bessie to Jane Eyre Abbot to Jane and Bessie? Jane Eyre to Bessie and Abbot Bessie to Jane Eyre Jane to Bessie Abbot to Bessie and Jane Mrs. Reed to Abbot and Bessie

Do you feel as if you should sleep, Miss?" "I will try." "Would you like to drink, or could you eat anything?" "No, thank you,___." "Then I think I shall go to bed, for it is past twelve o'clock; but you may call me if you want anything in the night." "___, what is the matter with me? Am I ill?" "You fell sick, I suppose, in the red-room with crying; you'll be better soon, no doubt."

Bessie to Jane Eyre Jane Eyre to Bessie Bessie to Jane Eyre Jane Eyre to Bessie Bessie to Jane Eyre Jane Eyre to Bessie Bessie to Jane Eyre

Hold her arms, ___: she's like a mad cat

Bessie to Miss Abbot

lend me your garters; she would break mine directly.

Bessie to Miss Abbot

Poor Miss Jane is to be pitied, too, ." "Yes," "if she were a nice, pretty child, one might compassionate her forlornness; but one really cannot care for such a little toad as that." "Not a great deal, to be sure," "at any rate, a beauty like Miss Georgiana would be more moving in the same condition." "Yes, I doat on Miss Georgiana!""Little darling!—with her long curls and her blue eyes, and such a sweet colour as she has; just as if she were painted!— I could fancy a Welsh rabbit for supper." "So could I—with a roast onion. Come, we'll go down."

Bessie to Miss Abbot Abbot to Bessie Bessie to Miss Abbot Miss Abbot to Bessie Miss Abbot to Bessie Bessie to Miss Abbot

"___screamed so loud, ma'am," "Let her go," "Loose Bessie's hand, child: you cannot succeed in getting out by these means, be assured. I abhor artifice, particularly in children; it is my duty to show you that tricks will not answer: you will now stay here an hour longer, and it is only on condition of perfect submission and stillness that I shall liberate you then." "O aunt! have pity! Forgive me! I cannot endure it—let me be punished some other way! I shall be killed if—" "Silence! This violence is all most repulsive:"

Bessie to Mrs. Reed about Jane Eyre Mrs. Reed to Bessie to Jane Eyre Mrs. Reed to Jane Eyre Jane Eyre to Mrs.Reed Mrs.Reed to Jane Eyre

___, come and sleep with me in the nursery; I daren't for my life be alone with that poor child to-night: she might die; it's such a strange thing she should have that fit: I wonder if she saw anything. Missis was rather too hard." "Something passed her, all dressed in white, and vanished"—"A great black dog behind him"—"Three loud raps on the chamber door"—"A light in the churchyard just over his grave,"

Bessie to Sarah about Jane Eyre Bessie to Sarah

She is in the window-seat, to be sure, Jack

Eliza to John Reed

Dear! dear! What a fury to fly at Master John!" "Did ever anybody see such a picture of passion!

Maid Abbot and/or Bessie about Jane Eyre's rage?

Missis was, she dared say, glad enough to get rid of such a tiresome, ill-conditioned child, who always looked as if she were watching everybody, and scheming plots underhand.

Miss Abbot to Bessie

Besides, God will punish her: He might strike her dead in the midst of her tantrums, and then where would she go? Come, Bessie, we will leave her: I wouldn't have her heart for anything.

Miss Abbot to Bessie about Jane Eyre

And you ought not to think yourself on an equality with the Misses Reed and Master Reed, because Missis kindly allows you to be brought up with them. They will have a great deal of money, and you will have none: it is your place to be humble, and to try to make yourself agreeable to them

Miss Abbot to Jane Eyre

But it was always in her, I've told Missis often my opinion about the child, and Missis agreed with me. She's an underhand little thing: I never saw a girl of her age with so much cover.

Miss Abbot to Jane Eyre

For shame! for shame! What shocking conduct, ___, to strike a young gentleman, your benefactress's son! Your young master

Miss Abbot to Jane Eyre

No; you are less than a servant, for you do nothing for your keep. There, sit down, and think over your wickedness.

Miss Abbot to Jane Eyre

Say your prayers, ___, when you are by yourself; for if you don't repent, something bad might be permitted to come down the chimney and fetch you away

Miss Abbot to Jane Eyre

"I hope that sigh is from the heart, and that you repent of ever having been the occasion of discomfort to your excellent benefactress." "

Mr. Brocklehurst to Jane

"No? oh, shocking! I have a little boy, younger than you, who knows six Psalms by heart: and when you ask him which he would rather have, a gingerbread-nut to eat or a verse of a Psalm to learn, he says: 'Oh! the verse of a Psalm! angels sing Psalms;' says he, 'I wish to be a little angel here below;' he then gets two nuts in recompense for his infant piety."

Mr. Brocklehurst to Jane

How can you keep in good health? Children younger than you die daily. I buried a little child of five years old only a day or two since,—a good little child, whose soul is now in heaven. It is to be feared the same could not be said of you were you to be called hence."

Mr. Brocklehurst to Jane

"No sight so sad as that of a naughty child," "especially a naughty little girl. Do you know where the wicked go after death?" "They go to hell," "And what is hell? Can you tell me that?" "A pit full of fire." "And should you like to fall into that pit, and to be burning there for ever?" "No, sir." "What must you do to avoid it?"

Mr. Brocklehurst to Jane Jane to Mr. Brocklehurst Mr. Brocklehurst to Jane Jane to Mr. Brocklehurst Mr. Brocklehurst to Jane Jane to Mr. Brocklehurst Mr. Brocklehurst to Jane

Do you say your prayers night and morning?" continued my interrogator. "Yes, sir." "Do you read your Bible?" "Sometimes." "With pleasure? Are you fond of it?" "I like Revelations, and the book of Daniel, and Genesis and Samuel, and a little bit of Exodus, and some parts of Kings and Chronicles, and Job and Jonah." "And the Psalms? I hope you like them?" "No, sir."

Mr. Brocklehurst to Jane Jane to Mr. Brocklehurst Mr. Brocklehurst to Jane Jane to Mr. Brocklehurst Mr. Brocklehurst to Jane Jane to Mr. Brocklehurst Mr. Brocklehurst to Jane Jane to Mr. Brocklehurst

Deceit is, indeed, a sad fault in a child," "it is akin to falsehood, and all liars will have their portion in the lake burning with fire and brimstone; she shall, however, be watched, ___ I will speak to Miss Temple and the teachers." "I should wish her to be brought up in a manner suiting her prospects," "to be made useful, to be kept humble: as for the vacations, she will, with your permission, spend them always at Lowood." "Your decisions are perfectly judicious, madam," "Humility is a Christian grace, and one peculiarly appropriate to the pupils of Lowood; I, therefore, direct that especial care shall be bestowed on its cultivation amongst them. I have studied how best to mortify in them the worldly sentiment of pride; and, only the other day, I had a pleasing proof of my success. My second daughter, Augusta, went with her mama to visit the school, and on her return she exclaimed: 'Oh, dear papa, how quiet and plain all the girls at Lowood look, with their hair combed behind their ears, and their long pinafores, and those little holland pockets outside their frocks—they are almost like poor people's children! and,' said she, 'they looked at my dress and mama's, as if they had nev

Mr. Brocklehurst to Mrs. Reed Mrs. Reed to Mr. Brocklehurst Mr. Brocklehurst to Mrs. Reed Mr. Brocklehurst to Mrs. Reed Mrs. Reed to Mr. Brocklehurst Mr. Brocklehurst to Mrs. Reed