“And your will shall decide your destiny," he said: "I offer you my hand, my heart, and a share of all my possessions."  You play a farce, which I merely laugh at."  I ask you to pass through life at my side--to be my second self, and best earthly companion."  For that fate you have already made your choice, and must abide by it."  Jane, be still a few moments: you are over-excited: I will be still too."  A waft of wind came sweeping down the laurel-walk, and trembled through the boughs of the chestnut: it wandered away--away--to an indefinite distance--it died. The nightingale's song was then the only voice of the hour: in listening to it, I again wept. Mr. Rochester sat quiet, looking at me gently and seriously. Some time passed before he spoke; he at last said -  Come to my side, Jane, and let us explain and understand one another."  I will never again come to your side: I am torn away now, and cannot return."  But, Jane, I summon you as my wife: it is you only I intend to marry."  I was silent: I thought he mocked me.  Come, Jane--come hither."  Your bride stands between us."  He rose, and with a stride reached me.  My bride is here," he said, again drawing me to him, "because my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane, will you marry me?” 
― Charlotte Brontë

“And everyone is always saying that marriage is really hard and takes a lot of work. But the thing is, when you know that you love someone, those things don’t matter. You have to push all the everyday things and the outside world away, and just enjoy knowing that this is the man who has the chest your head is meant to lie on.” 
― Erin McCarthy

“The rule seemed to be that a great woman must either die unwed ... or find a still greater man to marry her. ... The great man, on the other hand, could marry where he liked, not being restricted to great women; indeed, it was often found sweet and commendable in him to choose a woman of no sort of greatness at all.” 
― Dorothy L. Sayers

“Her only thought was of getting away, as if she were carrying a live grenade from inside the house, so that when it exploded, it would destroy just herself.” 
― Jennifer Egan

“Every fairy tale, it seems, concludes with the bland phrase "happily ever after." Yet every couple I have ever known would agree that nothing about marriage is forever happy. There are moments of bliss, to be sure, and lengthy spans of satisfied companionship. Yet these come at no small effort, and the girl who reads such fiction dreaming her troubles will end ere she departs the altar is well advised to seek at once a rational women to set her straight.” 
― Catherine Gilbert Murdock

“Alexia figured, delightedly, that this meant he did, in fact, tend to traipse around his private apartments in the altogether. Marriage was becoming more and more of an attractive prospect.” 
― Gail Carriger

“The hardest lesson is Clare’s solitude. Sometimes I come home and Clare seems kind of irritated; I’ve interrupted some train of thought, broken into the dreary silence of her day. Sometimes I see an expression on Clare’s face that is like a closed door. She has gone inside the room of her mind and is sitting there knitting or something. I’ve discovered that Clare likes to be alone. But when I return from time traveling she is always relieved to see me.” 
― Audrey Niffenegger

“Marriage becomes hard work once you have poured the entirety of your life’s expectations for happiness into the hands of one mere person. Keeping that going is hard work.” 
― Elizabeth Gilbert