Veronica Marquardt

“Young men often laugh at the sensible girls whom they secretly respect, and affect to admire the silly ones whom they secretly despise, because earnestness, intelligence, and womanly dignity are not the fashion.”
― Louisa May Alcott, An Old-Fashioned Girl

“Then he kissed her. At his lips' touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald , The Great Gatsby

“But one thing I beg of you, look on me as your friend; and if you want some help, advice, or simply want to open your heart to someone- not now, but when things are clearer in your heart- think of me.' He took her hand and kissed it. 'I shall be happy, if I am able...' Pierre was confused.
'Don't speak to me like that; I'm not worth it!' cried Natasha...
'Hush, hush your whole life lies before you,' he said to her.
'Before me! No! All is over for me,' she said, with shame and humiliation.
'All over?' he repeated. 'If I were not myself, but the handsomest, cleverest, best man in the world, and if I were free I would be on my knees this minute to beg for your hand and your love.”
― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

“[It may be true that] men never know a pretty thing when they see it. [But men do] know a lady when they see one.”
― Louisa May Alcott, An Old-Fashioned Girl