Quotes from Jane Austen

To you I shall say, as I have often said before, Do not be in a hurry, the right man will come at last.

I lay it down as a general rule, Harriet, that if a woman doubts as to whether she should accept a man or not, she certainly ought to refuse him.

Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story. Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands. I will not allow books to prove anything.

Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you.

There is one thing, Emma, which a man can always do if he chooses, and that is his duty; not by manoeuvring and finessing, but by vigour and resolution. - Mr. Knightley

A man does not recover from such devotion of the heart to such a woman! He ought not; he does not.

He may live in my memory as the most amiable man of my acquaintance.

She is loveliness itself.

Give a girl an education and introduce her properly into the world, and ten to one but she has the means of settling well, without further expense to anybody.

In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better show more affection than she feels.

She was sensible and clever, but eager in everything; her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation.

There is safety in reserve, but no attraction. One cannot love a reserved person.

that you seemed almost as fearful of notice and praise as other women were of neglect. (Edmund to Fanny)

Yes," replied Darcy, who could contain himself no longer, "but that was when I first knew her; for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance.

You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking and looking, and thinking for your approbation alone. I roused, and interested you, because I was so unlike them.

Women are the only correspondents to be depended on.

Men were put into the world to teach women the law of compromise.

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.

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

A woman, especially if she have the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

Nobody minds having what is too good for them.

I am the happiest creature in the world. Perhaps other people have said so before, but not one with such justice. I am happier even than Jane; she only smiles, I laugh.

My idea of good company...is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company.' 'You are mistaken,' said he gently, 'that is not good company, that is the best.