Jane Austen Quotes

She knew that what Marianne and her mother conjectured one moment, they believed the next: that with them, to wish was to hope, and to hope was to expect.

And your defect is a propensity to hate everybody." "And yours," he replied with a smile, "is willfully to misunderstand them.

How hard it is in some cases to be believed!' 'And how impossible in others!

One half of her should not be always so much wiser than the other half.

the Musgroves had had the ill fortune of a very troublesome, hopeless son, and the good fortune to lose him before he reached his twentieth year.

From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two of the silliest girls in the country. I have suspected it some time, but I am now convinced.

It would be difficult to say which had seen highest perfection in the other, or which had been the happiest: she, in receiving his declarations and proposals, or he in having them accepted.

Expect a most agreeable letter; for not being overburdened with subject (having nothing at all to say) I shall have no check to my Genius from beginning to end.

Were I to fall in love, indeed, it would be a different thing! but I never have been in love; it is not my way, or my nature; and I do not think I ever shall.

Such squeamish youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity are not worth a regret.

I have changed my mind, and changed the trimmings of my cap this morning; they are now such as you suggested.

I wish I might take this for a compliment; but to be so easily seen through I am afraid is pitiful.

Anne hoped she had outlived the age of blushing; but the age of emotion she certainly had not.

To yield readily--easily--to the persuasion of a friend is no merit.... To yield without conviction is no compliment to the understanding of either.

Half the sum of attraction, on either side, might have been enough, for he had nothing to do, and she had hardly any body to love." (of Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth, Persuasion)

Teach us almighty father, to consider this solemn truth, as we should do, that we may feel the importance of every day, and every hour as it passes.

Have you any other objection than your belief of my indifference?" - Elizabeth Bennet

My style of writing is very diffrent from yours.

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

And we mean to treat you all,' added Lydia, 'but you must lend us the money, for we have just spent ours at the shop out there.

…but then I am unlike other people I dare say.

I can never be important to any one.' 'What is to prevent you?' 'Every thing — my situation — my foolishness and awkwardness.

His feelings are warm, but I can imagine them rather changeable.

A natural sequel of an unnatural beginning.

Now be sincere; did you admire me for my impertinence?" "For the liveliness of your mind, I did.

His cold politeness, his ceremonious grace, were worse than anything.

A report of a most alarming nature reached me two days ago.

I use the verb 'to torment,' as I observed to be your own method, instead of 'to instruct,' supposing them to be now admitted as synonymous.

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

He had an affectionate heart. He must love somebody.

She was stronger alone.

She was without any power, because she was without any desire of command over herself.

The stream is as good as at first; the little rubbish it collects in the turnings is easily moved away.

I cannot help thinking that it is more natural to have flowers grow out of the head than fruit.

I walk: I prefer walking.

We all love to instruct, though we can teach only what is not worth knowing.

Miss Morland, no one can think more highly of the understanding of women than I do. In my opinion, nature has given them so much, that they never find it necessary to use more than half.

I do regard her as one who is too modest for the world in general to be aware of half her accomplishments, and too highly accomplished for modesty to be natural of any other woman.

She mediated, by turns, on broken promises and broken arches, phaetons and false hangings, Tilneys and trap-doors.

Not very good, I am afraid. But now really, do not you think Udolpho the nicest book in the world?" "The nicest—by which I suppose you mean the neatest. That must depend upon the binding.

What one means one day, you know, one may not mean the next. Circumstances change, opinions alter.

It sometimes is a disadvantage to be so very guarded. If a woman conceals her affection from the object of it, she may loose the opportunity of fixing him.

it is very well worthwhile to be tormented for two or three years of one's life, for the sake of being able to read all the rest of it.

[W]here other powers of entertainment are wanting, the true philosopher will derive benefit from such as are given.

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

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.

And from the whole she deduced this useful lesson, that to go previously engaged to a ball, does not necessarily increase either the dignity or enjoyment of a young lady.

He is also handsome," replied Elizabeth, "which a young man ought likewise to be, if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete.

A single woman, of good fortune, is always respectable, and may be as sensible and pleasant as any body else.

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