Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

“I am now quite cured of seeking pleasure in society, be it country or town. A sensible man ought to find sufficient company in himself.”
– Chapter 3, pg. 28

“Proud people breed sad sorrows for themselves.” – Chapter 7, pg. 54

“He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same... If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger: I should not seem a part of it. My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods: time will change it, I'm well aware, as winter changes the trees. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary. Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being.” – Chapter 9, pg. 81

“The tyrant grinds down his slaves and they don't turn against him, they crush those beneath them.” – Chapter 11, pg. 111

“You said I killed you – haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers. I believe – I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always – take any form – drive me mad! Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!” – Chapter 16, pg. 165

“Treachery and violence are spears pointed at both ends: they wound those who resort to them worse than their enemies.” – Chapter 17, pg. 173

“He wanted all to lie in an ecstasy of peace; I wanted all to sparkle, and dance in a glorious jubilee. I said his heaven would only be half alive; and he said mine would be drunk; I said I should fall asleep in his; and he said he could not breathe in mine.” – Chapter 24, pg. 243

“I lingered round them, under that benign sky: watched the moths fluttering among the heath and hare-bells, listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass, and wondered how any one could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth.” – Chapter 34, pg. 331

So those were some of my favorite book quotes from Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

For some reason I was expecting a nice romance. But Edward Cullen is right – Wuthering Heights isn’t a love story, it’s a hate story. I don’t see how anyone could call whatever exists between Heathcliff and Catherine love. For me, there was zero chemistry. Heathcliff seemed more concerned with exacting revenge on those who had wronged him (mainly Hindley, Linton, and their descendants), while Catherine acted like a bipolar maniac. About the only

person I could stand was Mr. Lockwood, probably because he didn’t talk about himself much. Perhaps I didn't “get” the romance in this story because I find it hard to believe someone as cruel as Heathcliff could truly love another human being. Still, this book is one amazing hate story. I really believe everyone should read this book. It has one of those epic, twisted, so-messed-up-you-can’t-look-away plots. Bronte definitely succeeds in creeping the hell out of you. Gothic literature at its best. I hardly ever read the same book twice – so many books, so little time – but I will be reading this one again. It's a classic for a reason.