Quotes from Jane Austen

I shall be glad to have the library to myself as soon as may be.

There is something agreeable in feelings so easily worked on; not that I envy him their possession, nor would, for the world, have such myself; but they are very convenient when one wishes to influence the passions of another.

for though a very few hours spent in the hard labor of incessant talking will dispatch more subjects that can really be in common between two rational creatures, yet for the lovers is different. Between them no subject is finished; no communication is ever made, till it has been made at least twenty times over.

Come Darcy,' said he. 'I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing around by yourself in this stupid manner.

The stupidity with which he was favoured by nature must guard his courtship from any charm that could make a woman wish for its continuance.

She was of course only too good for him; but as nobody minds having what is too good for them, he was very steadily earnest in the pursuit of the blessing, and it was not possible that encouragement from her should be long wanting.

On every formal visit a child ought to be of the party, by way of provision for discourse.

Mrs. Norris hitched a breath and went on again.

She read with an eagerness which hardly left her power of comprehension, and from impatience of knowing what the next sentence might bring, was incapable of attending to the sense of the one before her eyes.

I have observed...in the course of my life, that if things are going outwardly one month, they are sure to mend the next.

I never have been in love; it is not my way, or my nature; and I do not think I ever shall.

Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone. No man will admire her the more, no woman will like her better for it.

I must tell you what you will not ask, though I may wish it unsaid the next moment

no man can be a good judge of the comforts a woman feels in the society of one of her own sex […]

She has a fund of good sense and observation which, as a companion, makes her infinitely superior to thousands of those who having only received 'the best education in the world,' know nothing worth attending to.

if one scheme of happiness fails, human nature turns to another; if the first calculation is wrong, we make a second better: we find comfort somewhere—and those evil-minded observers, dearest Mary, who make much of a little, are more taken in and deceived than the parties themselves.

Letters are no matter of indifference; they are generally a very positive curse.

Where she feared most to fail, she was most sure of success, for those to whom she endeavored to give pleasure were prepossessed in her favor.

I have had to contend against the unkindness of his sister, and the insolence of his mother; and have suffered the punishment of an attachment, without enjoying its advantages.

Nothing is more deceitful than the appearance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion and somethings an indirect boast.

I do not know whether it ought to be so, but certain silly things cease to be silly if done by sensible people in an imprudent way.

Lady Russell had only to listen composedly, and wish them happy, but internally her heart revelled in angry pleasure, in pleased contempt, that the man who at twenty-three had seemed to understand somewhat of the value of an Anne Elliot, should, eight years afterwards, be charmed by a Louisa Musgrove.

Her feelings were very acute, and too little understood to be properly attended to. Nobody meant to be unkind, but nobody put themselves out of their way to secure her comfort.

Deceived in Freindship and Betrayed in Love