Quotes from Jane Austen

He had followed her into the shrubbery with no idea of trying it

but when pain is over, the remembrance of it often becomes a pleasure. One does not love a place the less for having suffered in it, unless it has been all suffering, nothing but suffering—which was by no means the case

But , Mr. Knightley, are you perfectly sure that she has absolutely and downright accepted him? I could suppose she might in time, but can she already? Did not you misunderstand him? You were both talking of other things; of business, shows of cattle, or new drills; and might not you, in the confusion of so many subjects, mistake him? It was not Harriet's hand that he was certain of- it was the dimensions of some famous ox.

And talking of the dear family party which would then be restored, of their mutual pursuits and cheerful society, as the only happiness worth a wish.

The indignities of stupidity, and the disappointments of selfish passion, can excite little pity.

For herself she was humbled; but she was proud of him. Proud that in a cause of compassion and honour, he had been able to get the better of himself.

When Mr. Collins could be forgotten, there was really an air of great comfort throughout, and by Charlotte's evident enjoyment of it, Elizabeth supposed he must be often forgotten.

You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy.

They all went indoors with their new friends, and found rooms so small as none but those who invite from the heart could think capable of accommodating so many.

I always deserve the best treatment, because I never put up with any other;

To say the truth,' replied Miss Crawford, 'I am something like the famous Doge at the court of Lewis XIV.; and may declare that I see no wonder in this shrubbery equal to seeing myself in it

It was necessary to laugh, when she would rather have cried.

No, Emma, your amiable young man can be amiable only in French, not in English. He may be very 'aimable,' have very good manners, and be very agreeable; but he can have no English delicacy towards the feelings of other people: nothing really amiable about him.

Affectation of candour is common enough—one meets with it everywhere.

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

In a total misapprehension of character in some point or other; fancying people so much more gay or grave, or ingenious or stupid than they really are, and I can hardly tell why, or in what the deception originated. Sometimes one is guided by what they say of themselves, and very frequently by what other people say of them, without giving oneself time to deliberate and judge.

The far and the near must be relative, and depend on many varying circumstances.

It is not thought a good collection, but I was very well pleased, particularly (pray tell Fanny) with a small portrait of Mrs. Bingley, excessively like her. I went in hopes of seeing one of her sister, but there was no Mrs. Darcy.

Hay tanto de gratitud o de vanidad en casi todos los defectos, que no es cauto abandonarse de ellos.

Those who see quickly, will resolve quickly and act quickly,' said Julia.

Let him have all the perfections in the world, 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.

Abbiamo tutti voglia di insegnare agli altri, anche se siamo solo in grado di insegnare soltanto quello che non vale la pena di sapere.

Miss Bennet was therefore established as a sweet girl, and their brother felt authorized by such a commendation to think of her as he chose.

It may be easily believed that however little of novelty could be added to their fears hopes and conjectures on this interesting subject by its repeated discussion no other could detain them from it long during the whole of the journey. From Elizabeth's thoughts it was never absent. Fixed there by the keenest of all anguish self-reproach she could find no interval of ease or forgetfulness.