How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"You feel as I do, that the real tie lies in the feelings and expectations we have raised in other minds. Else all pledges might be broken, when there was no outward penalty. There would be no such thing as faithfulness." (6.11.45)
Maggie gives a great summary of the novel’s views on promises here. For Maggie, all choices must be weighed in light of promises made before. And promises, even unintentional ones or ones that you no longer wish to keep, must be upheld.
Quote #8
"I mean, if life did not make duties for us before love comes - love would be a sign that two people ought to belong to each other. But I see - I feel it is not so now: there are things we must renounce in life - some of us must resign love." (6.11.49)
Choosing to love someone, for Maggie, is not an easy thing. In fact it is sometimes impossible. For Maggie, life is filled with things likes duties and promises that romantic love can’t just sweep in and cancel out. The choice always hinges on what is there "before love comes," so to speak.
Quote #9
"I will not begin any future, even for you," said Maggie, tremulously, "with a deliberate consent to what ought not to have been. What I told you at Basset I feel now: - I would rather have died than fall into this temptation. It would have been better if we had parted for ever then. But we must part now." (6.14.22)
After a lot of difficulty, Maggie finally decides to leave Stephen, refusing to make a choice that she feels is morally wrong. To make matters worse Maggie regrets the choices that led her to this moment in the first place. She’s almost trying to choose now in a way that will somehow obliterate, or destroy, her previous bad choices.