Quotes from Jane Austen

Vanity was the beginning and the end of Sir Walter Eliot's character; vanity of person and of situation.

I shall ever despise the man who can be gratified by the passion which he never wished to inspire, nor solicited the avowal of.

His departure gave Catherine the first experimental conviction that a loss may be sometimes a gain.

but there are some situations of the human mind in which good sense has very little power...

Es cierto que no tengo la facilidad que poseen otros —señaló Darcy— de conversar con soltura con aquellos que no conocen. No puedo ceñirme al tono de su conversación, ni fingirme interesado por sus asuntos, como veo hacer tan a menudo.

Never did I see such an affecting Scene as was the meeting of Edward and Augustus. 'My Life! my Soul!' (exclaimed the former). 'My Adorable Angel!' (replied the latter) as they flew into each other's arms. It was too pathetic for the feelings of Sophia and myself -- We fainted alternately on a sofa.

for when people are determined on a mode of conduct which they know to be wrong, they feel injured by the expectation of any thing better from them.

The world may know my words, but it has no such privileges with my heart

dearest, loveliest Elizabeth [...] By you, I was properly humbled.

I am certainly the most fortunate creature ever existed!

Neither the dissipations of the past--and she had lived very much in the world, nor the restrictions of the present; neither sickness nor sorrow seemed to have closed her heart or ruined her spirits.

He understands muslin

No soy hombre de muchas palabras, Emma. Si te amara menos, sería capaz de hablar más de ello. Pero sabes como soy. De mí no escucharás más que verdades. Te he hecho reproches y te he reprendido y lo has soportado como ninguna otra mujer en toda Inglaterra lo hubiera hecho. Soporta todas las verdades que ahora te voy a decir, mi queridísima Emma, tan bien como soportaste aquellas

Every thing he did was right. Every thing he said was clever. If their evenings at the park included cards, he cheated himself and all the rest of the party to get her a good hand.

sometimes I have kept my feelings to myself, because I could find no language to describe them in but what was worn and hackneyed out of all sense and meaning

I must endeavor to subdue my mind to my fortune. I must learn to brook being happier than I deserve.

Every body at all addicted to letter writing, without having much to say, which will include a large proportion of the female world at least…

Our pleasures in this world are always to be paid for.

And with regard to the resentment of his family, or the indignation of the world, if the former were excited by his marrying me, it would not give me one moment's concern-- and the world in general would have too much sense to join in the scorn.

But now you love a hyacinth. So much the better. You have gained a new source of enjoyment, and it is well to have as many holds upon happiness as possible.

there could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison, no countenances so beloved.

I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love!- Elizabeth Bennet

What made you so shy of me, when you first called, and afterwards dined here? Why, especially, when you called, did you look as if you did not care about me? Because you were grave and silent, and gave me no encouragement. But I was embarrassed. And so was I. You might have talked to me more when you came to dinner. A man who had felt less, might.

Her eye fell everywhere on lawns and plantations of the freshest green; and the trees, though not fully clothed, were in that delightful state when farther beauty is known to be at hand, and when, while much is actually given to the sight, more yet remains for the imagination.