"Another husband would only have been afraid of his wife's intercourse with men: you present the very first example of a husband who is afraid of his wife's women-friends likewise." "It is because I love you so.

My love of you is so devoted, so idolatrous, that I would have every one who sees and knows you approach you with a reverence, a homage equal to mine own.

Not even in thought must any one dare to sin against you." "And do I give cause to the contrary ?" "You do not, but your surroundings do; and this Karpathy woman has a very equivocal reputation." "Rudolf, my good Rudolf, why are you so incensed against this poor woman?
If you only knew her, you would say there was not a more honourable woman in the whole world." "I know all about her; and you, from sheer compassion, have made her a present of your heart.

Your sympathy does you honour, but the world has an opinion of this woman very different from yours: in the world's opinion she is frivolous enough." "The world is unjust." "Not altogether, perhaps.

This woman has a past, and there is much in that past which justifies the world's judgment." "But in her present there is much which contradicts that judgment.