I am passionately fond of the country; I have, like yourself, all household tastes, home tastes; I love dogs, cats and children above all things.
George Sand: Letter to M. Jules Janin, February, 1857, in ‘Letters of George Sand.’
Maternal affection.
Make haste then, and tell me that my family is ... in good health; and, above all, my little Maurice, the little rogue, whom, however, I love more than anything in this world, and but for whom there would be no happiness for me. Does he sleep and eat well? Is he cheerful? Is he quite well? Do not be too indulgent to him, and yet, as much as you can, make him fond of his studies. I know full well that that is no easy task. When I am with him to wipe his eyes, and see him fall asleep in his cot, I do not much mind; but afar, my weakness as a mother is roused, and I am only grieved when I think that he is perhaps crying over his lesson-book.
Aurore Dudevant: Letter to M. Jules Boucoiran, November, 1829, in ‘Letters of George Sand.’
I ... long to go back to Berry; for I have children whom I love more than anything else. But for the hope of being some day more useful to them with the scribe’s pen than with the housewife’s needle, I should not part from them so long.
Aurore Dudevant: Letter to M. Charles Duvernet, March, 1831, in ‘Letters of George Sand.’
Life in Paris with Solange.