Jane Austen Quotes & Sayings

But I hate to hear you talking so like a fine gentleman, and as if women were all fine ladies, instead of rational creatures. We none of us expect to be in smooth water all our days. — Jane Austen

You will excuse my being so much overpowered. If I find him conversible, I shall be glad of his acquaintance; but if he is only a chattering coxcomb, he will not occupy much of my time or thoughts. — Jane Austen

When I am in the country, I never wish to leave it; and when I am in town It is pretty much the same. They have each their advantages, and I can be equally happy in either. — Jane Austen

Every neighbourhood should have a great Lady. — Jane Austen

Excellent health herself. A family of ten children will be always called a fine family, where there are heads and arms and legs enough for the number; but the Morlands had little other right to the word, for they — Jane Austen

Mrs. Jennings was a widow, with an ample jointure. She had only two daughters, both of whom she had lived to see respectably married, and she had now therefore nothing to do but to marry all the rest of the world. — Jane Austen

For Marianne, however - in spite of his incivility in surviving her loss - he always retained that decided regard which interested him in every thing that befell her, and made her his secret standard of perfection in woman; - and many a rising beauty would be slighted by him in after-days as bearing no comparison with Mrs. Brandon. — Jane Austen

Only the deepest love will persuade me into matrimony, which is why I will end up an old maid. — Jane Austen

She was happy, she knew she was happy, and knew she ought to be happy. — Jane Austen

Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. He had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following manner. Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly addressed her with: — Jane Austen

I have not wanted syllables where actions have spoken so plainly. — Jane Austen

She was stronger alone; and her own good sense so well supported her, that her firmness was as unshaken, her appearance of cheerfulness as invariable, as, with regrets so poignant and so fresh, it was possible for them to be. — Jane Austen

Nothing can be changed by changing the face,but everything can be changed by facing the change!!Just think about it. — Jane Austen

The post-office is a wonderful establishment! The regularity and dispatch of it! If one thinks of all that it has to do, and all that it does so well, it is really astonishing! — Jane Austen

She had the comfort of appearing very polite, while feeling very cross. — Jane Austen

It raises my spleen more than any thing, to have the pretence of being asked, of being given a choice, and at the same time addressed in such a way as to oblige one to do the very thing - whatever it be! — Jane Austen

That is the case with us all, papa. One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other. Later — Jane Austen

His reading has done him no harm, for he has fought as well as read. — Jane Austen

I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine. — Jane Austen

You men have none of you any hearts.'
'If we have not hearts, we have eyes; and they give us torment enough. — Jane Austen

I can easily believe it. Women of that class have great opportunities, and if they are intelligent may be well worth listening to. Such varieites of human nature as they are in the habit of witnessing! And it is not merely in its follies, that they are read; for they see it occasionally under every circumstance that can be most interesting or affecting. What instances must pass before them of ardent, disinterested, self-denying attachment, of heroism, fortitude, patience, resignation
of all the sacrifices that ennoble us most. A sick chamber may often furnish the worth of volumes. — Jane Austen

Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion. — Jane Austen

Had you behaved in a more gentleman like manner! — Jane Austen

It does not often happen that the interference of friends will persuade a young man of independent fortune to think no more of a girl. — Jane Austen

And if I had not a letter to write myself, I might sit by you and admire the evenness of your writing, as another young lady once did. But I have an aunt too, who must not be longer neglected. — Jane Austen

There are very few of us that do not cherish a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some quality or other, real or imaginary — Jane Austen

Vanity, not love, has been my folly. — Jane Austen

I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy. — Jane Austen

In his library he had been always sure of leisure and tranquility; and though prepared, as he told Elizabeth, to meet with folly and conceit in every other room in the house, he was used to be free from them there — Jane Austen

Imust have a London audience.I could never preach, but to the educated; to those who were capable of estimating my composition. — Jane Austen

It does not appear to me that my hand is unworthy your acceptance, or that the establishment I can offer would be any other than highly desirable. — Jane Austen

I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love!- Elizabeth Bennet — Jane Austen

Where she feared most to fail, she was most sure of success, for those to whom she endeavored to give pleasure were prepossessed in her favor. — Jane Austen

It may be possible to do without dancing entirely. Instances have been known of young people passing many, many months successively, without being at any ball of any description, and no material injury accrue either to body or mind;
but when a beginning is made
when the felicities of rapid motion have once been, though slightly, felt
it must be a very heavy set that does not ask for more. — Jane Austen

The stupidity with which he was favoured by nature must guard his courtship from any charm that could make a woman wish for its continuance. — Jane Austen

There are as many forms of love as there are moments in time. — Jane Austen

My heart is, and always will be, yours. — Jane Austen

I can feel no sentiment of approbation inferior to love. — Jane Austen

The real evils, indeed, of Emma's situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself; — Jane Austen

Without music, life would be a blank to me. — Jane Austen

Happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs. Bennet got rid of her two most deserving daughters. With what delighted pride she afterwards visited Mrs. Bingley, and talked of Mrs. Darcy, may be guessed. I wish I could say, for the sake of her family, that the accomplishment of her earnest desire in the establishment of so many of her children produced so happy an effect as to make her a sensible, amiable, well-informed woman for the rest of her life; though perhaps it was lucky for her husband, who might not have relished domestic felicity in so unusual a form, that she still was occasionally nervous and invariably silly. — Jane Austen

For he is such a disagreeable man, that it would be quite a misfortune to be liked by him. — Jane Austen

He understands muslin — Jane Austen

Catherine [ ... ] enjoyed her usual happiness with Henry Tilney, listening with sparkling eyes to everything he said; and, in finding him irresistible, becoming so herself. — Jane Austen

It is very unfair to judge of any body's conduct, without an intimate knowledge of their situation. — Jane Austen

He was a blessing to all the juvenile part of the neighbourhood, for in summer he was for ever forming parties to eat cold ham and chicken out of doors, and in winter his private balls were numerous enough for any young lady who was not suffering under the insatiable appetite of fifteen. — Jane Austen

Well, said Anne, 'I certainly am proud, too proud to enjoy a welcome which depends so entirely upon place. — Jane Austen

I am determined that only the deepest love will induce me into matrimony. So, I shall end an old maid, and teach your ten children to embroider cushions and play their instruments very ill. — Jane Austen

My fingers,' said Elizabeth, 'do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner which I see so many woman's do. They have not the same force of rapidity and do not possess the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault
because I would not take the trouble if practicing. It is not that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman's of superior execution.'
Darcy smiled and said, 'You are perfectly right. — Jane Austen

If I am a wild Beast I cannot help it. It is not my own fault. — Jane Austen

What are men to rocks and mountains?
April 1, 1816: The Prince Regent enjoyed Jane Austen's novels, but he requested that she try her hand at a historical romance with less satirical and humorous elements. Austen was not amused. On this day, she wrote to the Prince Regent, I could not sit down to write a serious romance under any other motive than to save my life. — Jane Austen

Emma's eyes were instantly withdrawn; and she sat silently meditating, in a fixed attitude, for a few minutes. A few minutes were sufficient for making her acquainted with her own heart. A mind like hers, once opening to suspicion, made rapid progress. She touched - she admitted - she acknowledged the whole truth. Why was it so much worse that Harriet should be in love with Mr. Knightley, than with Frank Churchill? Why was the evil so dreadfully increased by Harriet's having some hope of a return? It darted through her, with the speed of an arrow, that Mr. Knightley must marry no one but herself! — Jane Austen

Surprises are foolish things. The pleasure is not enhanced, and the inconvenience is often considerable. — Jane Austen

I can no longer refuse myself the pleasure of profiting by your kind invitation when we last parted of spending some weeks with you at Churchhill, and, therefore, if quite convenient to you and Mrs. Vernon to receive me at present, I shall hope within a few days to be introduced to a sister whom I have so long desired to be acquainted with. My kind friends here are most affectionately urgent with me to prolong my stay, but their hospitable and cheerful dispositions lead them too much into society for my present situation and state of mind; and I impatiently look forward to the hour when I shall be admitted into Your delightful retirement. — Jane Austen

Mr. Rushworth could be silent no longer. I do not say he is not gentleman-like, considering; but you should tell your father he is not above five feet eight, or he will be expecting a well-looking man. — Jane Austen

What a blessing it is, when undue influence does not survive the grave! — Jane Austen

I know I shall probably never see him again, but I cannot bear to think that he is alive in the world and thinking ill of me. — Jane Austen

The event had every promise of happiness for her friend. Mr. Weston was a man of unexceptionable character, easy fortune, suitable age, and pleasant manners; and there was some satisfaction in considering with what self-denying, generous friendship — Jane Austen

But he recommended the books which charmed her leisure hours, he encouraged her taste, and corrected her judgment; he made reading useful by talking to her of what she read, and heightened its attraction by judicious praise. — Jane Austen

You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope ... I have loved none but you. — Jane Austen

Beware how you give your heart. — Jane Austen

How can you contrive to write so even? — Jane Austen

We are all fools in love — Jane Austen

Nothing is more deceitful,' said Darcy, 'than the appearance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, — Jane Austen

Books
oh! no. I am sure we never read the same, or not with the same
feelings."
"I am sorry you think so; but if that be the case, there can at least be
no want of subject. We may compare our different opinions. — Jane Austen

I speak what appears to me the general opinion; and where an opinion is general, it is usually correct. Though — Jane Austen

I am not only not going to be married, at present, but have very little intention of ever marrying at all. — Jane Austen

What praise is more valuable than the praise of an intelligent servant? — Jane Austen

She wanted to be alone. Her mind was in a state of flutter and wonder, which made it impossible for her to be collected. She was in dancing, singing, exclaiming spirits; and till she had moved about, and talked to herself, and laughed and reflected, she could be fit for nothing rational. — Jane Austen

Let no one presume to give the feelings of a young woman on receiving the assurance of that affection of which she has scarcely allowed herself to entertain a hope. — Jane Austen

Where the wound had been given, there must the cure be found, if any where. — Jane Austen

There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil, a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome."
"And your defect is a propensity to hate everybody."
"And yours," he replied with a smile, "is wilfully to misunderstand them. — Jane Austen

It's been many years since I had such an exemplary vegetable. — Jane Austen

He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and every body hoped that he would never come there again. — Jane Austen

A submissive spirit might be patient, a strong understanding would supply resolution, but here was something more; here was that elasticity of mind, that disposition to be comforted, that power of turning readily from evil to good, and of finding employment which carried her out of herself, which was from nature alone. It was the choicest gift of Heaven; and Anne viewed her friend as one of those instances in which, by a merciful appointment, it seems designed to counterbalance almost every other want. — Jane Austen

She looked back as well as she could; but it was all confusion. She had taken up the idea, she supposed and made everything bend to it. — Jane Austen

Her tears fell abundantly
but her grief was so truly artless, that no dignity could have made it more respectable in Emma's eyes
and she listened to her and tried to console her with all her heart and understanding
really for the time convinced that Harriet was the superior creature of the two
and that to resemble her would be more for her own welfare and happiness than all that genius or intelligence could do.
It was rather too late in the day to set about being simple-minded and ignorant; but she left her with every previous resolution confirmed of being humble and discreet, and repressing imagination all the rest of her life. — Jane Austen

Do you not want to know who has taken it? cried his wife impatiently. — Jane Austen

I was so anxious to do what is right that I forgot to do what is right. — Jane Austen

Jane will be quite an old main soon,I declare. She is almost three-and-twenty! Lord, how ashamed I should be of not being married before three-and-twenty! — Jane Austen

Marianne could never love by halves. — Jane Austen

There was no being displeased with such an encourager, for his admiration made him discern a likeness before it was possible. — Jane Austen

She found, what has been sometimes found before, that an event to which she had been looking with impatient desire did not, in taking place, bring all the satisfaction she had promised herself. — Jane Austen

And the respect which he felt for her high rank, and his veneration for her as his patroness, mingling with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his right as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility. — Jane Austen

How horrible it is to have so many people killed! And what a blessing that one cares for none of them! — Jane Austen

Well, we must live and learn. — Jane Austen

You feel, as you always do, what is most to the credit of human nature. - Such feelings ought to be investigated, that they may know themselves. — Jane Austen

I am ill-qualified to recommend myself to strangers. — Jane Austen

In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of." "But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood. — Jane Austen

I do not believe a word of it, my dear. If he had been so very agreeable, he would have talked to Mrs. Long. But I can guess how it was; everybody says that he is eat up with pride, and I dare say he had heard somehow that Mrs. Long does not keep a carriage, and had come to the ball in a hack chaise. — Jane Austen

[N]obody minds having what is too good for them. — Jane Austen

I am tired of submitting my will to the caprices of others - of resigning my own judgement in deference to those to whom I owe no duty, and for whom I feel no respect. — Jane Austen

Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery. — Jane Austen

I often think," she said, "that there is nothing so bad as parting with one's friends. One seems to forlorn without them. — Jane Austen

When the hour of departure drew near, the maternal anxiety of Mrs Morland will be naturally supposed to be severe ... Cautions against the violence of such nobleman and baronets as delight in forcing young ladies away to some remote farmhouse, must, at such a moment, relieve the fullness of her heart ... But Mrs Morland knew so little of lords and baronets, that she entertained no notion of their general mischievousness, and was wholly unsuspicious of danger to her daughter from their machinations. — Jane Austen

He had not forgiven Anne Elliot. She had used him ill, deserted and disappointed him; and worse, she had shewn a feebleness of character in doing so, which his own decided, confident temper could not endure. She had given him up to oblige others. It had been the effect of over-persuasion. It — Jane Austen

My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?" Mr. Bennet — Jane Austen

What a revolution in her ideas! — Jane Austen

Let go of the past because its remembrance will give you pleasure. — Jane Austen

No lace. No lace, Mrs. Bennett, I beg you! — Jane Austen