Quotes from Jane Austen

What! Would I be turned back from doing a thing that I had determined to do, and that I knew to be right, by the airs and interference of such a person, or any person I may say? No, I have no idea of being so easily persuaded. When I have made up my mind, I have made it.

she thought it was the misfortune of poetry, to be seldom safely enjoyed by those who enjoyed it completely; and that the strong feelings which alone could estimate it truly, were the very feelings which ought to taste it but sparingly.

if a woman doubts as to whether she should accept a man or not, she certainly ought to refuse him. If she can hesitate as to `Yes,' she ought to say `No' directly. It is not a state to be safely entered into with doubtful feelings, with half a heart.

The advantages of natural folly in a beautiful girl have been already set forth by the capital pen of a sister author; and to her treatment of the subject I will only add, in justice to men, that though to the larger and more trifling part of the sex, imbecility in females is a great enhancement of their personal charms, there is a portion of them too reasonable and too well informed themselves to desire anything more in woman than ignorance.

When so many hours have been spent convincing myself I am right, is there not some reason to fear I may be wrong?

We are so vain that we even care for the opinion of those we don't care for.

I do not cough for my own amusement.

Next to being married, a girl likes being crossed in love a little now and again.

One does not love a place the less for having suffered in it, unless it has been all suffering, nothing but suffering.

Well, my dear, said Mr. Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the note aloud, 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.

That is what I like; that is what a young man ought to be. Whatever be his pursuits, his eagerness in them should know no moderation, and leave him no sense of fatigue.

To begin perfect happiness at the respective ages of 26 and 18 is to do pretty well

Cuanto más conozco el mundo, más me irrita, y todos los días confirmo mi creencia en la inconstancia del carácter humano y en la poca que me inspiran las apariencias de mérito o talento.

I am determined that nothing but the deepest love could ever induce me into matrimony. [Elizabeth]

No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy, would have supposed her born to be a heroine... But from fifteen to seventeen she was in training for a heroine...

Evil to some is always good to others

A poca gente quiero de verdad, y de muy pocos tengo buen concepto. Cuanto más conozco el mundo, más me desagrada, y el tiempo me confirma mi creencia en la inconsistencia del carácter humano y en lo poco que se puede uno fiar de las apariencias de bondad o inteligencia.

She attracted him more than he liked.

Do you dance, Mr. Darcy? Darcy: Not if I can help it! Sir William: What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! There is nothing like dancing, after all. I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished societies. Mr. Darcy: Certainly, sir; and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world; every savage can dance.

Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant.

If this man had not twelve thousand a year, he would be a very stupid fellow.

I certainly must,' said she. 'This sensation of listlessness, weariness, stupidity, this disinclination to sit down and employ myself, this feeling of everything's being dull and insipid about the house! I must be in love; I should be the oddest creature in the world if I were not.

I would much rather have been merry than wise.

Mama, the more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love.