Quotes from Jane Austen

Mr. Darcy who took her so much by surprise in his application for her hand, that, without knowing what she did, she accepted him.

My being charming, Harriet, is not quite enough to induce me to marry; I must find other people charming—one

I declare, there is no enjoyment like reading.

if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness—if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and under your orders.

Nothing was so likely to do her good as a little quiet cheerfulness at home.

no poverty of any kind, except of conversation, appeared—but there, the deficiency was considerable.

Pride is a very common failing, I believe. By all that I have ever read, I am convinced that it is very common indeed; that human nature is particularly prone to it, and that there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some quality or other, real or imaginary.

Read Above Your Head--"You may perhaps be brought to acknowledge that 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.

Cuando contemplo una noche como esta, tengo la sensación de que ni la maldad ni el dolor pueden existir en el mundo; y es seguro que de las dos cosas habría menos si se atendiera más a la sublimidad de la naturaleza y la humanidad llevara su mirada un poco más allá del círculo de mezquindades en que se encierra, contemplando un espectáculo como éste.

very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement.

I should not mind anything at all.

El bien me lo hice a mí mismo al convertirla a usted en el objeto de mis pensamientos más afectuosos. No podía pensar en usted sin mimarla, con defectos y todo; y a fuerza de encariñarme con tantos errores creo que he estado enamorado de usted por lo menos desde que tenía trece años.

Mr. Collins was to attend them, at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him, and have his library to himself

A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half-deserved. All

You have bewitched me body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you.

They have both," said she, "been deceived, I dare say, in some way or other, of which we can form no idea. Interested people have perhaps misrepresented each to the other. It is, in short, impossible for us to conjecture the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them, without actual blame on either side.

But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely on that account, for in general, you know, they visit no newcomers. Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for us to visit him if you do not.

Men of sense do not want silly wives.

The notions of a young man of one or two and twenty, said he, as to what is necessary in manners to make him quite the thing, are more absurd, I believe, than those of any other set of beings in the world. The folly of the means they often employ is only to be equalled by the folly of what they have in view.

Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to out opinion of ourselves; vanity to what we would have others think of us.

To Elizabeth it appeared that, had her family made an agreement to expose themselves as much as they could during the evening, it would have been impossible for them to play their parts with more spirit or finer success

So much for Isabella," she cried, "and for all our intimacy! She must think me an idiot, or she could not have written so; but perhaps this has served to make her character better known to me than mine is to her. I see what she has been about. She is a vain

The tumult of her mind was now painfully great. She knew not how to support herself, and, from actual weakness, sat down and cried for half an hour.

When she is secure of him, there will be more leisure for falling in love as much as she chooses.