It's an odd thing-the softer and more easily hurt a woman is the better she can screw herself up to do what has to be done.

— E. Nesbit

It's not respectable,' she said. And when people say that, it's no use anyone's saying anything.

— E. Nesbit

It wouldn't do to go mixing up the present and the past, and cutting bits out of one to fit into the other.

— E. Nesbit

Perhaps there's given up being magic because people didn't believe in it anymore.

— E. Nesbit

Robert explained how much simpler it was to pay money for things than to exchange them as the people were doing in the market. Later on the soldier gave the coins to his captain, who, later still, showed them to Pharaoh, who of course kept them and was much struck with the idea. That was really how coins first came to be used in Egypt. You will not believe this, I daresay, but really, if you believe the rest of the story, I don't see why you shouldn't believe this as well.

— E. Nesbit

She had been to her Great-Aunt Willougbhy’s before, and she knew exactly what to expect. She would be asked about her lessons, and how many marks she had, and whether she had been a good girl. I can’t think why grownup people don’t see how impertinent these questions are. Suppose you were to answer:“I’m the top of my class, auntie, thank you, and I am very good. And now let us have a little talk about you, aunt, dear. How much money have you got, and have you been scolding the servants again, or have you tried to be good and patient, as a properly brought up aunt should be, eh, dear?” Try this method with one of your aunts next time she begins asking you questions, and write and tell me what she says.

— E. Nesbit

So he caught her in his arms and kissed her, and they were very happy, and told each other what a beautiful world it was, and how wonderful it was that they should have found each other, seeing that the world is not only beautiful but rather large.

— E. Nesbit

There are brown eyes in the world, after all, as well as blue, and one pair of brown that meant heaven to me as the blue had never done

— E. Nesbit

There is nothing more luxurious than eating while you read—unless it be reading while you eat. Mabel did both: they are not the same thing, as you will see if you think the matter over.

— E. Nesbit

There was a pleasant party of barge people round the fire. You might not have thought it pleasant, but they did; for they were all friends or acquaintances, and they liked the same sort of things, and talked the same sort of talk. This is the real secret of pleasant society.

— E. Nesbit