Quotes from Henry James

I should think that to hear such lovely music as that would really make him feel better. I'm afraid there are moments in life when even Schubert has nothing to say to us. We must admit, however, that they are our worst.

The years has touched her only to enrich her; the flower of her youth had not faded; it only hung more quietly on its stem.

I do nothing for any one in the world but you. But for you I'll do anything. Good, good, said Kate. That's how I like you. He waited again an instant. Then you swear to it? To 'it'? To what? Why, that you do 'like' me. For it's only for that, you know, that I'm letting you do—well, God knows what with me.

The great thing is to love something.

Your desire is to escape everything? Everything.

Existía un secreto en Bly… quizá un familiar inmencionable recluido en un insospechado confinamiento?

You can do a great many things if you are rich which would be severely criticised if you were poor

Try to be one of the people on whom nothing is lost.

Desde el ligero sobresalto, aquella noche en la planta alta, sufrido ante la presencia de la mujer al pie de la escalera, nada había visto dentro ni fuera de la casa que mejor hubiera sido no ver. Había muchos recodos donde esperaba tropezar con Quint y muchas situaciones en que, por su siniestra naturaleza, hubieran debido favorecer las apariciones de la señorita Jessel.

If the child gives the effect another turn of the screw, what do you say to two children—?

It had been her fortune to possess a finer mind than most of the persons among whom her lot was cast; to have a larger perception of surrounding facts and to care for knowledge that was tinged with the unfamiliar.

The young girl inspected her flounces and smoothed her ribbons again; and Winterbourne presently risked an observation upon the beauty of the view. He was ceasing to be embarrassed, for he had begun to perceive that she was not in the least embarrassed herself.

For it was of no use, she had an unquenchable desire to think well of herself.

she had driven in by a single word a little golden nail, the sharp intention of which he signally felt. He

Don't people always feel better just before the end?

He said at another time that she had no heart; and he added in a moment that she had given it all away—in small pieces, like a frosted wedding-cake.

impression of having seen me before.  It was not till afterwards that I thought this rather characteristically dull of him.  I drew him far away—I was

For Isabel, however, there was of course as of yet no thought of getting out, but only of advancing.

Strether wondered, desiring justice. "They seem—all the women—very harmonious." "Oh in closer quarters they come out!" And then, while Strether was aware of fearing closer quarters, though giving himself again to the harmonies

I'm rather ashamed of my plans; I make a new one every day.

They had from an early hour made up their mind that society was, luckily, unintelligent, and the margin allowed them by this had fairly become one of their commonplaces.

Io non desidero di saper di più di quello che so. So già fin troppo. Più si sa e più s'è infelici.

Oscura como la media noche dentro de su vestido negro, su desfigurada belleza y su indecible aflicción

It must be added however that, thanks to his constant habit of shaking the bottle in which life handed him the wine of experience, he presently found the taste of the lees rising as usual into his draught.