Quotes from book
The History of Sir Charles Grandison

The History of Sir Charles Grandison
Samuel Richardson

The History of Sir Charles Grandison, commonly called Sir Charles Grandison, is an epistolary novel by English writer Samuel Richardson first published in February 1753. The book was a response to Henry Fielding's The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, which parodied the morals presented in Richardson's previous novels. The novel follows the story of Harriet Byron who is pursued by Sir Hargrave Pollexfen. After she rejects Pollexfen, he kidnaps her, and she is only freed when Sir Charles Grandison comes to her rescue. After his appearance, the novel focuses on his history and life, and he becomes its central figure.

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“There hardly can be a greater difference between any two men, than there too often is, between the same man, a lover and a husband.”

Samuel Richardson book The History of Sir Charles Grandison

Vol. 4, letter 17.
Sir Charles Grandison (1753–1754)

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“A feeling heart is a blessing that no one, who has it, would be without; and it is a moral security of innocence; since the heart that is able to partake of the distress of another, cannot wilfully give it.”

Samuel Richardson book The History of Sir Charles Grandison

Vol. 3, letter 32.
Sir Charles Grandison (1753–1754)

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“Of what violences, murders, depredations, have not the epic poets, from all antiquity, been the occasion, by propagating false honour, false glory, and false religion?”

Samuel Richardson book The History of Sir Charles Grandison

Vol. 6, letter 45.
Sir Charles Grandison (1753–1754)

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“The World, thinking itself affronted by superior merit, takes delight to bring it down to its own level.”

Samuel Richardson book The History of Sir Charles Grandison

Vol. 1, letter 36.
Sir Charles Grandison (1753–1754)

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“Vast is the field of Science … the more a man knows, the more he will find he has to know.”

Samuel Richardson book The History of Sir Charles Grandison

Vol. 1, letter 11.
Sir Charles Grandison (1753–1754)

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“The mind can be but full. It will be as much filled with a small disagreeable occurrence, having no other, as with a large one.”

Samuel Richardson book The History of Sir Charles Grandison

Vol. 6, letter 46.
Sir Charles Grandison (1753–1754)

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“Women are so much in love with compliments that rather than want them, they will compliment one another, yet mean no more by it than the men do.”

Samuel Richardson book The History of Sir Charles Grandison

Vol. 1, letter 37.
Sir Charles Grandison (1753–1754)

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“Those who have least to do are generally the most busy people in the world.”

Samuel Richardson book The History of Sir Charles Grandison

Vol. 2, letter 3.
Sir Charles Grandison (1753–1754)

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