The unqualified truth is, that when I loved Estella with the love of a man, I loved her simply because I found her irresistible. Once for all; I knew to my sorrow, often and often, if not always, that I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be. Once for all; I love her none the less because I knew it, and it had no more influence in restraining me, than if I had devoutly believed her to be human perfection. Charles Dickens
About This Quote

At the end of the novel, "Great Expectations", the character of Miss Havisham is described in this way; “I am sure she was very handsome once, but now she is horribly ugly.  The memory of her beauty has faded away, and the remembrance only makes me shudder.” Miss Havisham may have been beautiful. She may have been unkind. She might be hard on people.

But she never was cruel, even if she did put down Estella for being poor and for not following in her footsteps. It wasn’t Estella's fault that Miss Havisham was so awful.

Source: Great Expectations

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More Quotes By Charles Dickens
  1. I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be.

  2. Never close your lips to those whom you have already opened your heart.

  3. What greater gift than the love of a cat.

  4. Out of my thoughts! You are part of my existence, part of myself. You have been in every line I have ever read, since I first came here, the rough common boy whose poor heart you wounded even then. You have been in every prospect...

  5. I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul.

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