Quotes from Jane Austen

You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these last twenty years at least.

This is an evening of wonders, indeed!

Woe betide him, and her too, when it comes to things of consequence, when they are placed in circumstances requiring fortitude and strength of mind, if she have not resolution enough to resist idle interference ... It is the worst evil of too yielding and indecisive a character, that no influence over it can be depended on. You are never sure of a good impression being durable; everybody may sway it. Let those who would be happy be firm.

A young woman in love always looks like Patience on a monument Smiling at Grief.

faultless in spite of all her faults...

Maybe it's that I find it hard to forgive the follies and vices of others, or their offenses against me. My good opinion, once lost, is lost forever.

I am all astonishment.

In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will no longer be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.

If you were to give me forty such men, I never could be so happy as you. Till I have your disposition, your goodness, I never can have your happiness. No, no, let me shift for myself; and, perhaps, if I have very good luck, I may meet with another Mr. Collins in time.

Were I to fall in love, indeed, it would be a different thing! but I have never been in love; it is not my way, or my nature; and I do not think I ever shall. And, without love, I am sure I should be a fool to change such a situation as mine.

She was humbled, she was grieved; she repented, though she hardly knew of what. She became jealous of his esteem, when she could no longer hope to be benefited by it. She wanted to hear of him, when there seemed the least chance of gaining intelligence. She was convinced that she could have been happy with him, when it was no longer likely they should meet.

I will not allow books to prove any thing. But how shall we prove any thing? We never shall.

Where the waters do agree, it is quite wonderful the relief they give.

I certainly will not persuade myself to feel more than I do. I am quite enough in love. I should be sorry to be more

I often think, she said, that there is nothing so bad as parting with one's friends. One seems to forlorn without them.

We can all begin freely—a slight preference is natural enough; but there are very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement.

I think it ought not to be set down as certain, that a man must be acceptable to every woman he may happen to like himself.

Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?

The less said the better.

You may ask questions which I shall not choose to answer.

You must really begin to harden yourself to the idea of being worth looking at.

Human nature is so well disposed towards those who are in interesting situations, that a young person, who either marries or dies, is sure of being kindly spoken of.

And you are never to stir out of doors till you can prove that you have spent ten minutes of every day in a rational manner.

En compañía de un libro uno se aburre mucho menos.