The Scarlet Letter

"She understands me better than I understand myself."

"We violated our reverence each for the other, but let that pass."

"That old man!—if thou really wilt help me in the struggle with him, I shall win!"

"I may have sinned deeply and darkly; yet I am still thy Hester!"

"Dost thou not feel, then, a desire of revenge against thy enemy?"

"My little Pearl will love me!"

"Thou knowest what is the evil, and canst do that which the good requires."

"The child—the minister's child—thy child!"

"This woman's scarlet letter may open a dungeon where an angel sits imprisoned."

"Compassion has come to be with me as my daily garment."

"Art thou a man? Hast thou a heart?"

"Better to die than to live as I have lived!"

"My old faith comes back to me, and explains all that we do, and all that we suffer."

"Thou and I, Hester, never drew our breath in one stagnant air!"

"For all wild things love the forest!"

"How little have I to do with all that dreams of heaven and yearnings for eternity."

"The very law that condemns me is not absolute as it seems."

"Let the black flower blossom as it may."

"Woman's strength and woman's weakness were made known to me."

"Of penance I have had enough! None knows better than I."

"I am not, Hester, of the cold and remorseful order of penitents."

"What we did had a consecration of its own."

"Tell me, Hester—art thou sure that there is a man upon this earth to whom I may not confess all?"

"Madame, I must earnestly beseech you."

"My poor, wronged friend!—how he torments himself!"

"The wretched minister!—he has kept his secret well."

"There is another dreadfulness—I have a strange fancy that this scarlet letter gives me power."

"May God forgive us both!"

"Thou didst refuse to exert thy power to the fullest extent."

"That old man!—if he still live—he has long since pined away beneath my ministrations."