Quotes from Jane Austen

Any thing interests between those who love; and any thing will serve as introduction to what is near the heart

With this answer Elizabeth was forced to be contented; but her own opinion remained the same. It was not in her nature, however, to increase her vexations by dwelling on them. She was confident of having performed her duty, and to fret over unavoidable evils, or augment them by anxiety, was no part of her disposition.

She was heartily ashamed of her ignorance. A misplaced shame. Where people wish to attach, they should always be ignorant. To come with a well-informed mind is to come with an inability of administering to the vanity of others, which a sensible person would always wish to avoid. A woman especially, if she have the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can.

I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love! - I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love - said Darcy. - Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may. Everything nourishes what is strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away. - Elizabeth Bennet

It was a sweet view-sweet to the eye and the mind. English verdure, English culture, English comfort, seen under a sun bright, without being oppressive.

Oh! I am delighted with the book! I should like to spend my whole life in reading it. I assure you, if it had not been to meet you, I would not have come away from it for all the world.

She had received ideas which disposed her to be courteous and kind to all, and to pity every one, as being less happy than herself.

Por una persona en concreto no debes trastocar el significado de principio y de integridad, ni intentar convencerte a ti misma o a mí, de que el egoísmo es prudencia o de que la insensibilidad ante el peligro es un seguro de felicidad

Pride is a very common failing I believe.

Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then. It is something to think of, and gives her a sort of distinction among her companions.

General uncivility is the very essence of love.

People that marry can never part, but must go and keep house together. People that dance only stand opposite each other in a long room for half an hour.

You and I, Sir John, said Mrs. Jennings, should never stand upon such ceremony. Then you would be very ill-bred, cried Mr. Palmer. My love, you contradict every body, - said his wife with her usual laugh. Do you know that you are quite rude? I did not know I contradicted any body in calling your mother ill-bred.

There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself. 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. In nine cases out of ten a women had better show more affection than she feels. Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly; but he may never do more than like her, if she does not help him on.

I do not believe a word of it, my dear. If he had been so very agreeable, he would have talked to Mrs. Long. But I can guess how it was; everybody says that he is eat up with pride, and I dare say he had heard somehow that Mrs. Long does not keep a carriage, and had come to the ball in a hack chaise.

Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners were very much admired at the Parsonage, and the ladies all felt that he must add considerably to the pleasures of their engagements at Rosings. It was some days, however, before they received any invitation thither—for while there

How horrid all this is! said he. Such weather makes every thing and every body disgusting. Dulness is as much produced within doors as without, by rain. It makes one detest all one's acquaintance. What the devil does Sir John mean by not having a billiard room in his house? How few people know what comfort is! Sir John is as stupid as the weather.

Nothing, on the contrary, could be more natural; and while able to suppose that it cost him a few struggles to relinquish her, she was ready to allow it a wise and desirable measure for both, and could very sincerely wish him happy.

At his own ball he offended two or three young ladies, by not asking them to dance; and I spoke to him twice myself, without receiving an answer. Could there be finer symptoms? Is not general incivility the very essence of love?

But a note had had been prepared and left for her, written in the very style to touch --a small mixture of reproach with a great deal of kindness

Marianne was silent; it was impossible for her to say what she did not feel, however trivial the occasion; and upon Elinor therefore the whole task of telling lies when politeness required it, always fell.

it is very well worth while to be tormented for two or three years of one's life, for the sake of being able to read all the rest of it. Consider - if reading had not been taught, Mrs. Radcliffe would have written in vain - or perhaps might not have written at all.

Normalmente todos empezamos por una ligera preferencia, y eso sí puede ser simplemente porque sí, sin motivo; pero hay muy pocos que tengan tanto corazón como para enamorarse sin haber sido estimulados. (Charlotte a Elizabeth)

The more I see of the world, the more I am dissatisfied with it.