Judith McNaught famous quotes

There will be a few times in your life when all your instincts will tell you to do something, something that defies logic, upsets your plans, and may seem crazy to others. When that happens, you do it. Listen to your instincts and ignore everything else. Ignore logic, ignore the odds, ignore the complications, and just go for it.
-- Judith McNaught

#Inspirational #Life #Attitude

Whitney: Where is your home? Clayton: Wherever you are.
-- Judith McNaught

#Home #Whitney

Some people feel love in their hearts, Julie. Some of us feel it all way into our souls. We're the ones who can't forget.
-- Judith McNaught

#Heart #People #Soul

The groom always smiles proudly because he's convinced he's accomplished something quite wonderful. The bride smiles because she's been able to convince him of it.
-- Judith McNaught

#Smile #Marriage #Wedding

Why did happy memories fade and blur until one could scarcely recall them at all, while horrible memories seemed to retain their blinding clarity and painful sharpness?
-- Judith McNaught

#Memories #Clarity #Painful

‎People who talk less frequently notice more.
-- Judith McNaught

#People

You can't outwit fate by standing on the sidelines placing little sidebets about the outcome of life. either you wade in and risk everything you have to play the game or you don't play at all. and if u don't play u can't win.
-- Judith McNaught

#Inspirational #Powerful #Fate

You will soon discover that in matters of the heart, memories are much kinder than reality
-- Judith McNaught

#Memories #Heart #Reality

Listen to your instincts and ignore everything else.
-- Judith McNaught

#Instinct

Sometimes it just happens - to the wrong people at the wrong time.
-- Judith McNaught

#People #Sometimes #Wrong Time

The old adage which says that it is ‘whom you know that counts’ is far off the mark. It is what you know about whom you know that truly makes difference.
-- Judith McNaught

#Differences #Adages #Mark

Missing you? I could cheerfully murder you.
-- Judith McNaught

#Missing #Murder

Success without someone to share it with is hollow indeed. On the other hand, it beats the heck out of failure.
-- Judith McNaught

#Hands #Share #Beats

Life was wonderful, so filled with people and activities, with love and laughter.
-- Judith McNaught

#Laughter #People #Wonderful

Nor is he man enough to make a woman of you.
-- Judith McNaught

#Men #Enough #He Man

True beauty springs from the heart and dwells in the eyes.
-- Judith McNaught

#Spring #Heart #Eye

Clayton," she said softly, her voice threaded with tears, "when Vanessa asked about my accomplishments tonight, I forgot to mention that I do have one. And it's--it's so splendid that it compensates for my lack of all the others." Stephen and Clayton grinned at each other, neither of them hearing the emotion that clogged her voice. "What splendid accomplishments is that, little one?" Clayton asked. Her shoulders hunched forward and began to shake. "I made you love me," she whispered brokenly. "Somehow, some way, I actually made you love me.
-- Judith McNaught

#Voice #Accomplishment #Tears

A lie is an affront to the soul, as well as an insult to the intelligence of the person to whom one lies.
-- Judith McNaught

#Lying #Soul #Insult

Love" and all the obsessive behaviors associated with it, was an absurd emotion.
-- Judith McNaught

#Emotion #Behavior #Absurd

A romance novel should leave readers joyous. My books all have happy endings.
-- Judith McNaught

#Book #Romance #Happy Endings

I think we women underrate ourselves when it comes to our courage and strength.
-- Judith McNaught

#Thinking

It would have hurt no matter who took you the first time.
-- Judith McNaught

#Hurt #Matter #Firsts

At my age, I regard each funeral I attend as a personal triumph, because I was not the guest of honor.
-- Judith McNaught

#Funeral #Honor #Age

I buy everything in sight. It took my last ounce of control not to buy one of these in every color.
-- Judith McNaught

#Sight #Color #Lasts

Elizabeth, if you want to be kissed, all you have to do is put your lips on mine.
-- Judith McNaught

#Want #Lips

How foolish to yearn to ask the very person who'd caused the pain to heal it
-- Judith McNaught

#Pain #Foolish #Heal

Looking at you has been my favorite pastime from the moment you asked me to describe your face," he said solemnly, looking straight into her eyes.
-- Judith McNaught

#Eye #Faces #Moments

How am I doing so far?" she asked, forcing a cheerful lightness into her voice. "You're doing very well," Nick's lazy voice mocked. "I'm half convinced that I'm invisible.
-- Judith McNaught

#Voice #Lazy #Cheerful

Some of the most unkind,judgmental people I've ever known go to church every Sunday and read the Bible. I don't know how some people are able to disassociate their own cruelty and shortcomings from their religious obligations and convictions, but many are able to do that.
-- Judith McNaught

#Religious #Sunday #People

God help me if I ever injure my back," Clayton quipped. "God help you if you ever turn it," Whitney snapped, "for there'll surely be some heartbroken papa or cuckolded husband ready with a knife--if I don't murder you first.
-- Judith McNaught

#Heartbroken #Husband #Knives

God help him." He chortled. "He doesn't realize he loves her. And even if he did, he wouldn't admitted it." -Dr. Whitticomb
-- Judith McNaught

#Drs #Helping #Realizing

I've hurt you terribly my love, and I'll hunt you again during the next fifty years. And you are going to hurt me, Ian-never I hope as much as you are hurting me now. But if that's the way it has to be, then I'll endure it, because the only alternative is to live without you, and that is no life at all. And the difference is that I know it, and you don't... not yet...
-- Judith McNaught

#Hurt #Differences #Years

Some women need no jewels to make them sparkle. You are one of them. -Royce Westmoreland
-- Judith McNaught

#Jewels #Needs #Sparkle

Now they are empty, Ramon replied with a shrug of broad, muscled shoulders on his six-foot-three-inch frame....For the first time, a glint of humor touched Ramon Galverra's finely sculpted mouth and arrogant dark eyes.
-- Judith McNaught

#Eye #Dark #Feet

We are not of what we feel or believe to do, we are of what we do or fail to do.
-- Judith McNaught

#Believe #Improvement #Failing

I used to be ashamed And now I am proud. The world once was black And now it is bright. I used to walk head bent And now I stand up tall. I used to have dreams But now I have hope.
-- Judith McNaught

#Dream #Black #World

I want more from life than that and I have more to give.
-- Judith McNaught

#Giving #Want

Childhood romances always seem so real, so enduring, when we are separated from the object of our affection. But usually, when we return, we find that our dreams and memories quiet surpassed reality. -Lady Anne, Whitney's aunt
-- Judith McNaught

#Dream #Memories #Real

We all do foolish things when we are in love. Don't we, your grace?
-- Judith McNaught

#Grace #Foolish

She wept with shame for her lack of will and with fear for a love she couldn't control.
-- Judith McNaught

#Shame

I do not believe that grief is ever so great that it can not be contained within.
-- Judith McNaught

#Grief #Believe #Bereavement

He will love only once - but it will be for always.
-- Judith McNaught

Behold your new mistress, my wife," he pronounced, "and know that when she bids you, I have bidden you. What service you render her, you are rendering me. What loyalty you give or withhold from her, you give or withhold from me!" -Royce Westmoreland
-- Judith McNaught

#Loyalty #Giving #Wife

she kissed him with all the aching longing that being this close to him evoked; she kissed him in all the ways he had ever kissed her, feeling faint with joy when he began to kiss her back, his mouth moving with fierce tenderness, then opening with fiery demand over hers, until their breaths were mingled gasps, and they were straining to one another.
-- Judith McNaught

#Moving #Kissing #Joy

Beside him a tiny elderly woman was leaning on a cane, studying him with curiosity. Since good manners seemed to require that he speak to her, Jon cast about for some sort of polite conversation pertinent to the occasion. “I hate funerals, don’t you?” He said. “I rather like them,” she said smugly. “At my age, I regard each funeral I attend as a personal triumph, because I was not the guest of honor.
-- Judith McNaught

#Hate #Elderly #Funeral

You can't stand clutter, and you have an obsession with orderliness. The furniture in here is centered exactly on the walls; the files on your desk are arranged in precise corners. If I had to guess, I would say you are probably a control freak, and that is usually symptomatic of a man who feels powerless to control his own life, so he tries to control every facet of his surroundings.
-- Judith McNaught

#Wall #Men #Trying

The two of them simply weren't attracted to just any attractive, eligible man; they were attracted rarely, but when it happened, it was evidently a life-altering experience.
-- Judith McNaught

#Men #Two #Attractive

It was a kingdom of dreams — a place where things would be just the way I wanted them to be.
-- Judith McNaught

#Dream #Would Be #Kingdoms

Jennifer Merrick had stored all her tears inside her, and her pride and courage would never permit her to break down and shed them.
-- Judith McNaught

#Pride #Tears #Down And

Why is it when you yield, I feel like the one who has been conquered?" -Royce Westmoreland
-- Judith McNaught

#Yield #Feels

An answering smile drifted across his tanned face. "What is mine, I intend to keep.
-- Judith McNaught

#Tears #Faces #Shed

But he knew instinctively what he suggested was impossible. She'd been through so much, and held her tears back for so long, that Royce doubted that anything could force her to shed them.
-- Judith McNaught

#Long #Tears #Impossible

After all, it's not every day a woman is given a kingdom of dreams.
-- Judith McNaught

#Dream #Kingdoms #Given

Missing you?" she giggled incredulously. "I could cheerfully murder you." "I'd come back to haunt you," he threatened with a grin. "And that," she said, "is the only reason why I haven't tried.
-- Judith McNaught

#Missing #Murder #Reason

I ought to break your neck!" Clayton interrupted. Too late, Whitney realized that she shouldn't have been standing all this time on her "injured" knee. "Allow me to congratulate you on a fine day's work, Madam," he said sternly. "In less than twelve hours, you've brought Whitticomb to your side and Cuthbert to your feet.
-- Judith McNaught

#Feet #Your Side #Knees

If I had a hundred kingdoms, I would trade them all for you, my dearest love. I was nothing until you.
-- Judith McNaught

#Kingdoms #Hundred #Trade

What hap­pens to me if this slip­per fits?" "I turn you into a hand­some frog.
-- Judith McNaught

#Hands #Frogs #Fit

Elizabeth’s entire body started to tremble as his lips began descending to hers. and she sought to forestall what her heart knew was inevitable by reasoning with him. “A gently bred Englishwoman,” she shakily quoted Lucinda’s lecture. “feels nothing stronger than affection. We do not fall in love.” His warm lips covered hers. “I’m a Scot,” he murmured huskily. “We do.
-- Judith McNaught

#Falling In Love #Heart #Stronger

Matt: I know you can cook. Meredith: What makes you so sure? Matt: Because less than an hour ago, you set me on fire.
-- Judith McNaught

#Fire #Hours #Cooks

Because,” he said quietly as she stood up, “until you walked into it, this was an ordinary garden.” Puzzled, Elizabeth tipped her head. “What is it now?” “Heaven.
-- Judith McNaught

#Garden #Heaven #Ordinary

Feeling a little foolish over her confidences, Elizabeth glanced up at him with an embarrassed smile. “What is the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen?” Dragging his gaze from the beauty of the gardens, Ian looked down at the beauty beside him. “Any place,” he said huskily, “where you are.
-- Judith McNaught

#Beautiful #Garden #Feelings

It isn’t what you say that counts, it’s what you don’t say
-- Judith McNaught

His gaze held hers, and his voice was tender and rough. “Love me, Elizabeth.” Elizabeth felt a tremor run through her entire body, but she looked at him without flinching. “I do.
-- Judith McNaught

#Running #Voice #Body

Reformed rakes often make the best husbands
-- Judith McNaught

#Husband #Rakes #Best Husband

Life can be so good if you let it. But you must trade with life. You give something and you get something, then you give something of yourself again and you receive something again. Life goes bad when people try to take from it without giving. Then they came away empty-handed, and they grab harder and more often, growing more disappointed and disillusioned each time.
-- Judith McNaught

#People #Giving #Trying

They’re going to ask what you said. And if I tell Mr. Twindell you said heaven will be like this, he’ll be very disappointed. He’s counting, you know, on gold streets and angels and horses with wings.” “I see where that could be a problem,” Ian agreed, and he tenderly laid his hand against his son’s cheek. “In that case, you can tell him I said this is almost heaven.
-- Judith McNaught

#Horse #Angel #Son

Which brings me to the question of why we always 'fall' in love. One falls down steps, off ladders, into rivers and down mountains. If love is so wonderful, why don't we soar in love or climb in love?
-- Judith McNaught

#Falling In Love #Love Is #Rivers

Do you know why I married you, Philip?" "Presumably you wanted the financial security and social prestige I could offer." She chuckled at that and shook her head..."I believed," she confessed somberly, "I honestly believed that I had something to offer you too--something you needed. Do you know what it was?" "I can't imagine." "I thought I could teach you how to laugh and enjoy life." Philip and Caroline
-- Judith McNaught

#Laughing #Enjoy Life #Financial

Don't do this to us." He warned, his voice hoarse with angry desperation as he realize he was losing her. "You're letting eleven years of mistrust color everything you've discovered I've done".
-- Judith McNaught

#Voice #Color #Years

Royce Westmoreland stared at him with biting scorn. "I despise hypocrisy, particularly when it is coated with holiness." "May I ask for a specific example?" "Fat priests," Royce replied, "with fat purses, who lecture staving peasants on the dangers of gluttony and the merits of poverty.
-- Judith McNaught

#Hypocrisy #Biting #Purses

Did he happen to select a color too?" "Blue." "Blue?" Victoria burst out, prepared to do physical battle for white. Madame nodded, her finger thoughtfully pressed to her lips, her own hand plunked upon her waist. "Yes, blue. Ice blue. He said you are glorious in that color-'a titian-haired angel,' he said" Victoria abruptly decided ice blue was a lovely color to be married in.
-- Judith McNaught

#Angel #Ice #White

I'd like to shower and change clothes," she said. "Would you mind waiting for me a half hour?" The question seemed to amuse him. "Not at all," he said with exaggerated formality. "Please take all the time you need." Michael watched her walk away. Did he mind waiting a half hour for her? Not at all. He'd been waiting years for her.
-- Judith McNaught

#Clothes #Years #Waiting

Jason, stop this,” she pleaded. “You don’t want to kiss me. You don’t even like me more than a little when you aren’t foxed” A harsh laugh escaped him. “I like you too damned much!” he whispered bitterly, then pulled her head down and captured her lips in a demaning, scalding kiss that took everything and give nothing in return.
-- Judith McNaught

#I Like You #Kissing #Laughing

Royce's eyes narrowed in discouragement at the thoght of having to sing to jenny. his deep bariton voice would surely bring every hound for miles to yap and nip at his heels.
-- Judith McNaught

#Eye #Voice #Jenny

What are you looking at?" Jordan demanded finally, watching her. "A dragon." When he looked bewildered she lifted her arm and pointed to the sky in the southeast. "Right there—that cloud—what do you see when you look at it?" "A fat cloud." Alexandra rolled her eyes at him. "What else do you see?" He was quiet for a moment studying the sky. "Five more fat clouds and three thin ones.
-- Judith McNaught

#Eye #Sky #Clouds

The amusement fled from Royce's face and with a groan he pulled her roughly against his chest, crushing her to him. "Jenny," he whispered hoarsely, burying his face in her fragrant hair. "Jenny, I love you." She melted against him, molding her body to the rigid contours of his, offering her lips up for his fierce, devouring kiss, then she took his face between both her hands. Leaning back slightly against his arm, her melting blue eyes gazing deeply into his, his wife replied in a shaky voice, "I think, my lord, I love you more.
-- Judith McNaught

#Crush #Love You #Eye

I love life, even when bad things happen to me. I can't stop loving it. Every season of the year comes with a promise that something wonderful is going to happen to me someday.
-- Judith McNaught

#Love Life #Years #Promise

If I ever think you are even considering leaving me again, no matter how good you reasons, I'll have you locked in your rooms and the doors barricaded, so help me God." He lifted her foot and began to dry it. Her voice shaking, Whitney asked, "Will you stay locked in there with me?" He raised her dainty foot to his jaw and tenderly laid his cheek against it, then turned his head and kissed it. "Yes," he whispered. -Clayton Westmoreland
-- Judith McNaught

#Thinking #Doors #Voice

Either give me your hand, or end it now, and put us both out of our misery
-- Judith McNaught

#Hands #Giving #Misery

Let me go.” “I can’t”, he said hoarsely, (…)” I’ve tried a hundred times to let you go, Victoria, but I can’t.
-- Judith McNaught

#Letting You Go #Hundred #Said

Love can't be forced into existence,(...)It won't come simply because you will it to happen
-- Judith McNaught

#Existence

(...)Did she really tell Roddy Carstairs she could outshoot him with his own pistol?" "No," Jason said dryly. "She told him that if he made one more improper advance to her, she would shoot him- and if she missed, she would turn Wolf loose on him. And if Wolf didn't finish the job, she had every faith I would." Jason chuckled and shook his head. "It's the first time I've been nominated for the role of hero. I was a little crushed, however, to be second choice after the dog.
-- Judith McNaught

#Dog #Jobs #Hero

Was it me you were discussing?” he countered with lifted brows. “I couldn’t tell from the description you were giving. Since when am I kind, considerate, refined, and amiable?” “You’re angry,” Victoria concluded on a sigh. A low chuckle rumbled in his chest and his arms tightened, drawing her close to his leann, muscular body. “I’m not angry,” he said in a husky, gentle voice. “I’m embarrassed
-- Judith McNaught

#Voice #Drawing #Giving

Whitney: You black-hearted, treacherous, conniving scoundrel. Clayton: Your flattery warms my heart
-- Judith McNaught

#Heart #Black #Flattery

You can't condemn me for wanting you, unless you condemn every other man who has." -Clayton Westmoreland
-- Judith McNaught

#Men #Wanting You