Wise words from Currier Bell

As I am an English teacher on occasion, I do enjoy a good literary classic every now and again. I spent my summer reading, for the most part, pure junk. Since school started and I wasn't doing any thing other than babysitting semi-functioning middle schoolers, I thought I'd delve into something challenging; something that I've always wanted to read but was never assigned. I had a fine at the public library, so I decided to search my own shelves for this heretofore undiscovered (by me) literary classic. I eventually decided on Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. With my copy coming in at just over 500 pages, it's always seemed a daunting task, but as I wasn't being daunted by anything else at the moment, I thought I'd give it a try. I won't give a synopsis of the novel, but if you're interested in the storyline, you can check out the Sparknotes for the story here.

I don't typically read novels with a highlighter unless I'm preparing to teach them, but the wisdom of this particular passage really struck me, so I thought I'd post it here:

Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be. If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth?

Isn't that a good quote?! I'm a fan of good quotes and I'm always excited when I discover one on my own. The book was (surprisingly) really good and not hard to read at all. I highly recommend it!



...and in case you're wondering, Currier Bell was Charlotte Bronte's pen name.



...and in case you're keeping track, I am trying to use the word heretofore in as many posts as I can, just for fun!