Sigrid Undset

And he walked still more slowly, furtively, like one who has escaped from prison.

Dragons and all suchlike that serve the devil, seem great only so long as fear is in ourselves.

Not one year of one’s life is wasted, as long as you have not reached a point where suicide is the only way out.

No one, nor anything, can harm us child, save what we fear or love.

“I have become an optimist since I have seen how much people really can stand without losing courage to struggle on, and without being degraded.”

Good days may last long if one lives wisely and deals warily with what one has; all wise folk know that, and ’tis therefore, I trow, that wise folk must rest content with good days⁠—for the best days of all cost very dear.

Let us go back now; it is getting cold.

Kristin, you know we have grown up together like two apples on one branch; I loved you long before I began to understand that one day another would come and break you from me.

“I believe it is you, Jenny, I am in love with,” he said suddenly.

Kristin leaned against the face of the rock; she was trembling now that all was over, but what she felt most was marvel that her prayer had brought such speedy help.

Lonely! She had been lonely ever since her mother met Mr. Berner, who worked with her in the same office.

She stood with upturned face to take his kiss.

Such high-flown words were only invented by men, poor things, not knowing that women generally are simple and vain, and so stupid that they are bored unless there is a man to entertain them.

It was as though her whole body ached with wonder⁠—that this ill thing was what was sung in all the songs.

Don’t you see that it will make her very lonely, always being the strongest?

She felt as she thought a hawk must feel sitting chained to its perch with its hood over its eyes.

The wind chilled her like a bath, till her body felt like a cool rich leaf, and she longed to give it to him.

“ ’Tis not you I blame,” said Erlend quickly, with a shamed look.

The happiness in life is not only to be loved, Jenny; the greatest happiness is to love.

“Oh, I did but call to mind somewhat Lady Aashild said once,” answered Kristin. “I was but a child then⁠—but ’twas somewhat about good days falling to wise folk, but the best days of all to those who dare be unwise.”