Quotes from Jane Austen

Everybody's heart is open, you know, when they have recently escaped from severe pain, or are recovering the blessing of health.

I know I shall probably never see him again, but I cannot bear to think that he is alive in the world and thinking ill of me.

Sally, or rather Sarah (for what young lady of common gentility will reach the age of sixteen without altering her name as far as she can?) must from situation be at this time the intimatre friend and confidante of her sister.

My business was to declare myself a scoundrel, and whether I did it with a bow or a bluster was of little importance.

Her spirits danced within her, as she danced in her chair.

I feel as if I could be any thing or every thing, as if I could rant and storm, or sigh, or cut capers in any tragedy or comedy in the English language.

For a single man with a good fortune must be in want of a wife

It was the desire of appearing superior to other people. The motive was too common to be wondered at.

it is not very wonderful that, with all their promising talents and early information, they should be entirely deficient in the less common acquirements of self-knowledge, generosity and humility. In everything but disposition they were admirably taught.

When he was gone, they were certain at least of receiving constant information of what was going on, and their uncle promised, at parting, to prevail on Mr. Bennet to return to Longbourn, as soon as he could, to the great consolation of his sister, who considered it as the only security for her husband's not being killed in a duel.

for with all his self-indulgence he had become a prudent man)

Mi afecto y mis anhelos no han variado; pero una palabra suya me hará callar para siempre Mr. Darcy

Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien, and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year. The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening.

Oh! Miss Woodhouse, the comfort of being sometimes alone!

After having so nobly disentangled themselves from the shackles of Parental Authority, by a Clandestine Marriage, they were determined never to forfeit the good opinion they had gained in the World, in so doing, by accepting any proposals of reconciliation that might be offered them by their Fathers – to their farther trial of their noble independence however they never were exposed.

but they must long feel that to flatter and follow others, without being flattered and followed in turn, is but a state of half enjoyment.

Miss Darcy was tall and on a larger scale than Elizabeth and though little more than sixteen her figure was formed and her appearance womanly and graceful. She was less handsome than her brother but there was sense and good humour in her face and her manners were perfectly unassuming and gentle. Elizabeth who had expected to find in her as acute and unembarrassed an observer as ever Mr. Darcy had been was much relieved by discerning such different feelings.

there could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison, no countenances so beloved. Now they were as strangers; nay, worse than strangers, for they could never become acquainted. It was a perpetual estrangement.

She now lost every expectation of pleasure. They were confined for the evening at different tables, and she had nothing to hope, but that his eyes were so often turned towards her side of the room, as to make him play as unsuccessfully as herself

Her resentment of such behaviour, her indignation at having been its dupe, for a short time made her feel only for herself.

Es gran lectora, y no encuentra placer en otra cosa.

She's a great reader and takes pleasure in nothing else.

does not confine herself to that sort of honest flirtation which satisfies most people, but aspires to the more delicious gratification of making a whole family miserable.

Aye, so it is, cried her mother, and Mrs. Long does not come back till the day before; so it will be impossible for her to introduce him, for she will not know him herself.