Quotes from Jane Austen

she had nothing to do but to forgive herself and be happier than ever…

When the evening was over, Anne could not be amused…nor could she help fearing, on more serious reflection, that, like many other great moralists and preachers, she had been eloquent on a point in which her own conduct would ill bear examination.

General benevolence, but not general friendship, make a man what he ought to be.

It would be most right, and most wise, and, therefore must involve least suffering.

An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents.

Will you tell me how long you have loved him? It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began.

Esteem him! Like him! Cold-hearted Elinor! Oh! worse than cold-hearted! Ashamed of being otherwise. Use those words again, and I will leave the room this moment.

Facts or opinions which are to pass through the hands of so many, to be misconceived by folly in one, and ignorance in another, can hardly have much truth left.

Run mad as often as you choose, but do not faint

I do not pretend to set people right, but I do see that they are often wrong.

Completely and perfectly and incandescently happy...

I am sorry to tell you that I am getting very extravagant and spending all my money: and what is worse for you, I have been spending yours too.

All the world is good and agreeable in your eyes.

Far be it from me, my dear sister, to depreciate such pleasures. They would doubtless be congenial with the generality of female minds. But I confess they would have no charms for me. I should infinitely prefer a book.

An engaged woman is always more agreeable than a disengaged. She is satisfied with herself. Her cares are over, and she may exert all her powers of pleasing without suspicion. All is safe with a lady engaged; no harm can be done

I see what you think of me,' said he, gravely; 'I shall make but a poor figure in your journal to-morrow.' My journal!' Yes; I know exactly what you will say:- Friday went to the Lower Rooms; wore my sprigged muslin robe with blue trimmings- plain black shoes- appeared to much advantage; but was strangely harassed by a queer, half-witted man, who would make me dance with him, and distressed me by his nonsense.

Nothing is more deceitful than the appearance of humility.

There is a quickness of perception in some, a nicety in the discernment of character, a natural penetration, in short, which no experience in others can equal...

but a sanguine temper, though for ever expecting more good than occurs, does not always pay for its hopes by any proportionate depression. it soon flies over the present failure, and begins to hope again.

I think him every thing that is worthy and amiable.

You think me foolish to call instruction a torment, but if you had been as much used as myself to hear poor little children first learning their letters and then learning to spell, if you had ever seen how stupid they can be for a whole morning together, and how tired my poor mother is at the end of it, as I am in the habit of seeing almost every day of my life at home, you would allow that to torment and to instruct might sometimes be used as synonymous words.

If a woman conceals her affection with the same skill from the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him; and it will then be but poor consolation to believe the world equally in the dark. There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost any attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all begin 'freely'- as light preference is natural enough; but there are very few of us who have a heart enough to be really in love without encouragement.

Sometimes I have kept my feelings to myself, because I could find no language to describe them in.

It taught me to hope, said he, as I had scarcely ever allowed myself to hope before. Mr. Darcy - Pride and Prejudice