Top 205 Wuthering Heights Quotes That Still Resonate Today

Few novels capture the raw intensity of human emotions like Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. Its pages are filled with fiery passions, unrelenting vengeance, and deep connections to nature, leaving readers enthralled for generations. The story of Heathcliff and Catherine unfolds with a blend of love and destruction, making it both haunting and unforgettable.

Throughout the novel, the dialogue strikes a chord with readers, offering glimpses into the minds of its deeply flawed yet compelling characters. These Wuthering Heights quotes resonate because they express timeless truths about love, pain, and the struggles of identity.

Whether it’s Heathcliff’s unyielding obsession or Catherine’s inner turmoil, the words reveal emotions we can all connect with, making the novel a masterpiece that continues to speak to readers today.

Wuthering Heights Quotes by Characters

Heathcliff

Heathcliff is one of literature’s most iconic anti-heroes, embodying a tempestuous blend of love, hatred, and vengeance. His words, often raw and passionate, reflect his tortured soul and obsessive devotion to Catherine. Here are some quotes from Heathcliff that capture his complexity and the intensity of his emotions.

1. “I have to remind myself to breathe—almost to remind my heart to beat!”
2. “The entire world is a dreadful collection of memoranda that she did exist, and that I have lost her!”
3. “I’ll have her in my arms again! If she be cold, I’ll think it is this north wind that chills me.”
4. “I want to crawl to her feet and kiss her, yet dare not show my abject misery!”
5. “It is not in my power to forgive her, though I am broken-hearted.”
6. “She’s mine. Mine, as much as I am hers!”
7. “I cannot express it; but surely you and everybody have a notion that there is, or should be, an existence of yours beyond you.”
8. “If you strike me, Hareton, I’ll strike back again!”
9. “I wish I could annihilate the terrible past!”
10. “You have broken my heart, and in breaking it, you have broken your own!”
11. “I have not broken your heart—you have broken it; and in breaking it, you have broken mine.”
12. “I am Heathcliff! He’s always, always in my mind—not as a pleasure, anymore than I am always a pleasure to myself.”
13. “I cannot look down to this floor, but her features are shaped on the flags!”
14. “Oh, God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!”
15. “I’ll make you pay for this! I’ll have revenge!”
16. “I wish I could hold her until we both vanished from this world!”

Catherine Earnshaw

Catherine Earnshaw is a character full of contradictions—passionate, selfish, and deeply torn between love and societal expectations. Her quotes reveal her fiery personality and her profound yet complicated relationship with Heathcliff.

1. “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”
2. “It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him.”
3. “I love my murderer—yes, I love him.”
4. “I’ll not lie there by myself; they may bury me twelve feet deep, and throw the church down over me, but I won’t rest till you are with me.”
5. “You have no right to act as you do; you have no reason to hate Edgar.”
6. “He shall never know how I love him; and that, not because he’s handsome, Nelly, but because he’s more myself than I am.”
7. “If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be.”
8. “You think me a selfish wretch, but did it never strike you that if Heathcliff and I married, we should be beggars?”
9. “I wish I could hold you, till we were both dead!”
10. “You are one of those things that are ever found when least wanted, and often the most useful when needed.”
11. “I’ll walk out of the house in my bare feet and wander the moors forever if you vex me further!”
12. “I cannot live without Heathcliff; he is in my soul.”
13. “You teach me now how cruel you’ve been—cruel and false.”
14. “Heathcliff, if I were you, I’d suffer myself to be hated.”
15. “I was only going to say that heaven did not seem to be my home.”
16. “You are my soul, my heart, my very being.”

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Edgar Linton

Edgar Linton represents gentleness, civility, and the contrasting force to Heathcliff’s passion and wildness. His words highlight his love for Catherine, his struggles with her divided loyalties, and his quiet strength.

1. “I cannot love thee. Thou’rt worse than a child.”
2. “You loved me, then what right had you to leave me?”
3. “Catherine, I’m glad I can make you happy.”
4. “No brutality disgusted her. I suppose she had an innate admiration of it.”
5. “I wish you had sincerity enough to tell me whether you love me or not!”
6. “I only wish that you were not so terribly selfish!”
7. “I have prayed often… for her to be released from the torture that was upon her.”
8. “I’m wearying to escape into that glorious world.”
9. “I forgive you. Forgive me also, if I’ve vexed you unwittingly.”
10. “I could as soon forget you as my existence.”
11. “You are rich now, Edgar, but will you keep the same love when you find out all?”
12. “You are my constant source of peace in this tempest.”
13. “Do not let me leave this earth without hearing that you forgive me.”
14. “I know you have suffered, but you cannot make your suffering my burden.”
15. “Her life is now hidden in the very heart of mine.”
16. “The heart’s affections are divided like the branches of a tree.”
17. “Do not try to unravel the mystery of her soul; it’s a puzzle none of us can solve.”
18. “I married Catherine because I loved her, not because I thought she could be tamed.”
19. “My happiness lies in making hers complete.”

Nelly Dean

As the narrator and moral compass of the novel, Nelly Dean offers insight, commentary, and judgment on the chaotic lives of the characters. Her quotes often reflect her perspective on love, loyalty, and the consequences of destructive behavior.

1. “Proud people breed sad sorrows for themselves.”
2. “It is not in me to neglect the duty I have undertaken.”
3. “I have undergone sharp discipline, which has taught me wisdom.”
4. “People often grumble because they do not succeed in their schemes as fast as they would like.”
5. “I gave him my opinion: the best thing he could do would be to go away.”
6. “It’s a pity he cannot be quiet! I’ll make him.”
7. “There’s no use fretting and fuming over matters which can’t be helped.”
8. “A person who has not done one half his day’s work by ten o’clock runs a chance of leaving the other half undone.”
9. “You have nobody to love you; and however miserable you make us, we shall still have the revenge of thinking that your cruelty arises from your greater misery.”
10. “Well, if I cannot keep Heathcliff for my friend—if Edgar will be mean and jealous, I’ll try to break their hearts.”
11. “She’s a wild rosebush, Nelly; but she can bloom in a hothouse.”
12. “What a heartless creature you must be to wish to coerce me.”
13. “It’s not their own false selves they deceive, but each other.”
14. “When people mean to be wicked, they may as well not pretend to be anything else.”
15. “I’ve done nothing but whimper since we left.”
16. “A woman who could be a friend as good as you deserve deserves to be happy.”
17. “To see how people suffer from the torment of ungrateful children!”
18. “There’s a chance for you to be saved yet.”
19. “Do not listen to him, Catherine. He’s only trying to rile you up.”
20. “I take the blame for much, but I will not take the blame for what was beyond my power.”

Hareton Earnshaw

Hareton Earnshaw starts as a rough, uneducated character but transforms into a symbol of resilience and redemption. His quotes reflect his struggles, growth, and eventual connection with Catherine Linton.

1. “I shall not be laughed at by you or anyone else.”
2. “You’ve treated me like dirt under your feet, but I am not less than you.”
3. “I don’t know how to read yet, but I’ll learn.”
4. “I don’t deserve your scorn. I never deserved it.”
5. “I loved you before you even noticed me.”
6. “If kindness were a habit, I might not be so coarse.”
7. “Your words hurt me more than your actions ever did.”
8. “I’ll make myself worthy of what you see in me.”
9. “I’ve been a fool, but I’ll not remain one forever.”
10. “I’m not afraid of work or pain, but I fear being alone.”
11. “I may not have riches, but I have my pride.”
12. “I won’t give up just because the world has given up on me.”
13. “There’s no shame in wanting to be better.”
14. “I’ve endured too much to let you break me.”
15. “Your laughter cuts deeper than any insult.”
16. “I’ve learned that love doesn’t need to be perfect to be true.”
17. “I’ll prove to you I’m not what you think.”
18. “I was born into ruin, but I won’t die in it.”
19. “The world might see me as a brute, but I see hope.”
20. “We both carry scars, but together, we can heal.”

Young Catherine Linton

Young Catherine Linton, the daughter of Catherine Earnshaw and Edgar Linton, represents a blend of strength and gentleness. Her journey is one of defying expectations and finding redemption through love and understanding.

1. “I’m not afraid to speak my mind, no matter who listens.”
2. “You don’t frighten me, even if you try.”
3. “I see good in you, even if you don’t.”
4. “I won’t be a prisoner of anyone’s expectations.”
5. “Love can soften even the hardest heart.”
6. “I won’t let bitterness define my future.”
7. “If kindness is a weakness, then I’ll gladly be weak.”
8. “I’m not my mother, but I carry her spirit.”
9. “There’s no shame in forgiving, only in refusing to try.”
10. “You’ve built walls around yourself, but I’ll climb them.”
11. “I choose hope, even when the past is full of pain.”
12. “It’s not strength to hurt others—it’s strength to heal.”
13. “I’ll not be afraid of your temper; it doesn’t scare me.”
14. “We’re not bound by our parents’ mistakes.”
15. “I’ve found freedom in seeing the good where others only see bad.”
16. “I won’t abandon those I care for, no matter how hard it gets.”
17. “You can’t frighten me into hatred.”
18. “The world might be cruel, but I refuse to be.”
19. “I see a future where we’re both free of anger.”
20. “Love isn’t a weakness; it’s the greatest strength we have.”

Wuthering Heights Quotes by Themes

Love and Obsession

The theme of love and obsession in Wuthering Heights is intense, raw, and often destructive. These quotes reflect the characters’ deep passions, emotional turmoil, and all-consuming desires.

1. “My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods: time will change it, I’m well aware.”
2. “If I were in heaven, Nelly, I should be extremely miserable.”
3. “He’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”
4. “You have killed me—and thriven on it, I think.”
5. “I cannot live without my soul; I cannot live without my life!”
6. “Be with me always—take any form—drive me mad!”
7. “I am Heathcliff! He’s always, always in my mind.”
8. “Heaven did not seem to be my home, and I broke my heart with weeping to come back to earth.”
9. “You loved me—then what right had you to leave me?”
10. “Her existence is a torture to me. I’m like a man bound hand and foot.”
11. “Your presence is a moral poison that would contaminate the most virtuous.”
12. “She’s mine. Mine, as much as I am hers.”
13. “I wish I could annihilate the terrible past.”
14. “The greatest punishment we can suffer in this life is the loss of love.”
15. “I wish I could hold her until we both vanished from this world.”
16. “Her love was like a wildflower, beautiful and fleeting.”

Revenge and Hatred

Revenge and hatred fuel much of the drama in Wuthering Heights. These quotes reveal the depth of bitterness, cruelty, and the destructive consequences of vengeance.

1. “I want you to suffer as I have suffered.”
2. “Whatever I do to Edgar, I do it with purpose.”
3. “It is not enough that I succeed; others must fail.”
4. “I’ll have his land, his money, and his peace of mind.”
5. “You’ve treated me like dirt under your feet, but I will rise.”
6. “Revenge is sweet, but it is never enough.”
7. “I’ve waited years to see them brought to ruin.”
8. “Hate is my only companion, and it drives me onward.”
9. “They have wronged me, and I shall return the favor tenfold.”
10. “There is no peace for the vengeful, but there is satisfaction.”
11. “I will watch as they crumble under the weight of their own guilt.”
12. “A broken heart is no excuse for mercy.”
13. “Let them feel the pain they’ve inflicted upon me.”
14. “Even the smallest slight can fester into the deepest wound.”
15. “I’ll not rest until they regret every decision they’ve made.”
16. “To destroy them is the only way I’ll find peace.”
17. “They think they’ve won, but the game is far from over.”
18. “Revenge consumes everything it touches, but I cannot let it go.”

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Nature and Isolation

Nature and isolation are central to the Gothic atmosphere of Wuthering Heights. The wild moors and the characters’ solitude mirror their emotional turmoil and longing for freedom.

1. “The earth was hard with a black frost, and the air made me shiver through every limb.”
2. “I wish I were a girl again, half savage and hardy, and free.”
3. “The moors are never silent, always whispering of something lost.”
4. “The house is lonely and surrounded by wilderness.”
5. “There is no peace in the house, only the wind howling through the cracks.”
6. “I’ve wandered the moors alone, finding solace in their vast emptiness.”
7. “The storm outside is nothing compared to the storm within me.”
8. “Even in the bleakest winter, the moors remain eternal.”
9. “The wildness of the land reflects the wildness of our hearts.”
10. “Wuthering Heights is as remote and cold as its master.”
11. “The wind carries whispers of the past across the heath.”
12. “The sky above these moors feels endless and oppressive.”
13. “Isolation is the natural state of man, surrounded only by his thoughts.”
14. “The house feels alive, as if it breathes with the moors themselves.”
15. “I love the moors, with their freedom and their harsh beauty.”
16. “The wilderness outside seems less lonely than the people inside.”
17. “Even the wildest storm cannot drown out the silence of loneliness.”
18. “There’s no escaping the moors; they pull you back like an old memory.”
19. “The natural world doesn’t judge—it simply exists, vast and unyielding.”
20. “The moors are the only place where I can truly breathe.”

Identity and Class

Identity and class are central to Wuthering Heights, influencing the characters’ relationships and decisions. These quotes delve into struggles with societal roles, personal ambition, and self-perception.

1. “I wish I were out of doors—I wish I were a girl again, half savage and hardy, and free.”
2. “Whatever I do is done with good intentions, but no one understands my struggles.”
3. “You degrade me by assuming I am incapable of better.”
4. “I’ve been treated as less than dirt, but I’ll rise above it.”
5. “He’s more myself than I am, but the world insists we are not the same.”
6. “To earn my place here, I must work harder than anyone else.”
7. “He’ll never forget that I was born beneath him.”
8. “I am nothing in this house but a shadow of what I could be.”
9. “The air of superiority in Thrushcross Grange suffocates me.”
10. “Bloodlines may define us, but they cannot cage our souls.”
11. “The shame of my station is a burden I cannot shed.”
12. “They treat me like a beast, but I know I am human.”
13. “Her love is pure, but it is tainted by my lowly birth.”
14. “He cannot see past my rough exterior to the man I’ve become.”
15. “They judge me for what they think I am, not what I truly am.”
16. “I despise their grandeur and pretensions, yet I crave their approval.”
17. “My pride may be all I have, but I will not let it go.”
18. “To them, I am nothing but a reminder of what they despise.”
19. “The struggle to belong is a fight I endure every day.”
20. “Class divides us as much as the moors separate Wuthering Heights from Thrushcross Grange.”

The Supernatural

The supernatural elements in Wuthering Heights add to its Gothic atmosphere, blending ghostly apparitions with the haunting presence of love and loss. These quotes reflect the eerie, otherworldly aspects of the novel.

1. “I believe the dead haunt us, as shadows of what once was.”
2. “The wind around the house sounds like whispers from beyond.”
3. “Be with me always—take any form—only do not leave me in this abyss.”
4. “I heard her voice in the wind, calling my name.”
5. “The specter of her love lingers in every corner of my mind.”
6. “She’s not truly gone; I feel her presence as surely as I feel the air I breathe.”
7. “The moors hold secrets the living cannot understand.”
8. “Her ghost visits me in my dreams, and I welcome it.”
9. “Death is not the end; it’s merely another chapter.”
10. “I’ve seen her face in the window, staring back at me.”
11. “Even the grave cannot contain her love.”
12. “At night, I feel her footsteps echo in the halls.”
13. “The boundary between the living and the dead is thin in this house.”
14. “Her spirit is as alive to me as it ever was.”
15. “The moors carry her laughter in the breeze.”
16. “Her ghostly presence comforts me more than the living ever could.”
17. “The house itself feels alive, as if it remembers every soul who has walked through it.”
18. “I do not fear the dead—they are kinder than the living.”
19. “The shadows of the past follow us wherever we go.”
20. “Love like ours cannot be silenced, not even by death.”