Marriage is a central theme in much of Trollope’s writing.

• I hate a stupid man who can't talk to me, and I hate a clever man who talks me down. I don’t like a man who is too lazy to make any effort to shine; but I particularly dislike the man who is always striving for effect.

  Phineas Finn

• I think, the world is harder to women than to men; that a woman often loses much by the chance of adverse circumstances which a man only loses by his own misconduct.

  The Belton Estate, Chapter 20 - William Belton Does Not Go Out Hunting

• It was the peculiarity of Florence Mountjoy that she did not expect other people to be as good as herself. It was not that she erected for herself a high standard and had then told herself that she had no right to demand from others one so exalted. She had erected nothing. Nor did she know that she attempted to live by grand rules. She had no idea that she was better than anybody else; but it came to her naturally as the result of what had gone before, to be unselfish, generous, trusting, and pure.

  Mr Scarborough's Family, Chapter 10 - Sir Magnus Mountjoy

• It is generally understood that there are raging lions about the metropolis, who would certainly eat up young ladies whole if young ladies were to walk about the streets or even about the parks by themselves.

  Ayala's Angel - Chapter 4, Isadore Hamel

• What should a woman do with her life? There had arisen round her a flock of learned ladies asking that question, to whom it seems that the proper answer has never yet occurred. Fall in love, marry the man, have two children, and live happy ever afterwards. I maintain that answer has as much wisdom in it as any other that can be given;—or perhaps more.

  Can You Forgive Her? - Chapter 11, 'John Grey Goes to London'

• She had not experience enough to know how small some things are, and how few are the evils which cannot be surmounted.

  Is He Popenjoy? - Chapter 28, 'What Matter If She Does?'

• Miss Thoroughbung was fat, fair, and forty to the letter, and she had a just measure of her own good looks, of which she was not unconscious. But she was specially conscious of twenty-five thousand pounds, the possession of which had hitherto stood in the way of her search after a husband.

  Mr Scarborough's Family, Chapter 26, 'Marmaduke Lodge'

• Now, now that she was older and perhaps wiser, love meant a partnership, in which each partner would be honest to the other, in which each would wish and strive for the other's welfare, so that thus their joint welfare might be insured. Then, in those early girlish days, it had meant a total abnegation of self. The one was of earth, and therefore possible. The other had been a ray from heaven, - and impossible, except in a dream.

  Can You Forgive Her?

• Why-oh! why had she told such a falsehood? Could anything justify her in a lie? was it not a lie-knowing as she did that she loved him with all her loving heart?

  Framley Parsonage

• Miss Trefoil must have thought that kissing and proposing were the same thing. Other young ladies have, perhaps, before now made such a mistake. But this young lady had had much experience, and should have known better.

  The American Senator

• It was admitted by all her friends, and also by her enemies--who were in truth the more numerous and active body of the two--that Lizzie Greystock had done very well with herself.

  The Eustace Diamonds

• With him, yea will stand for yea, and nay for nay. Though his heart should break for it, the woman who shall reject him once, will have rejected him once and for all.

  Barchester Towers, Chapter 45

• It was admitted by all her friends, and also by her enemies - who were in truth the more numerous and active body of the two - that Lizzie Greystock had done very well with herself.

  The Eustace Diamonds

• Feemy was a fine girl in the eyes of a man not too much accustomed to refinement.

  The Macdermots of Ballycloran

• Had she not been so much the lady, she might have been more the woman.

  Miss Mackenzie

• A woman's weapon is her tongue.

  The Way We Live Now

• Lovers with all the glories and all the graces are supposed to be plentiful as blackberries by girls of nineteen, but have been proved to be rare hothouse fruits by girls of twenty-nine.

  The Way We Live Now

• He was one of those men of whom it may be said that they have no possible claim to remain unmarried.

  He Knew He Was Right

• Long engagements are bad, no doubt. Everybody has always said so. But a long engagement may be better than none at all.

  Dr Wortle's School

• Love desires an equal.

  The Duke's Children

• It is very hard sometimes to know how intensely we are loved, and of what value our presence is to those who love us.

  The Last Chronicle of Barset

• All the virtues in the calendar, though they exist on each side, will not make a man and woman happy, unless there be sympathy.

  Phineas Finn

• Women are accustomed to look deeper into men at the first sight than other men will trouble themselves to do.

  Phineas Finn

• Remember this, there is no tyranny to a woman like telling her of her duty.

  Phineas Finn

• Girls are understood by their mothers better than they are by their fathers.

  He Knew He Was Right

• The tact of women excels the skill of men.

  The Claverings

• Had she not been so much the lady, she might have been more the woman.

  Miss Mackenzie

• A woman is always angry with the woman, who has probably been quite passive, and rarely with the man, who is ever the real transgressor.

  He Knew He Was Right