Jane Austen Quotes

582 Sourced Quotes

I speak what appears to me the general opinion; and where an opinion is general, it is usually correct.

Jane Austen
The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel must be intolerably stupid

Jane Austen
It is always incomprehensible to a man that a woman should ever refuse an offer of marriage.

Jane Austen
Those who do not complain are never pitied.

Jane Austen
I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal.

Jane Austen
"I am afraid", replied Elinor, "that the pleasantness of an employment does not always evince its propriety."

Jane Austen
Human nature is so well disposed towards those who are in interesting situations, that a young person, who either marries or dies, is sure of being kindly spoken of.

Jane Austen
A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of. It certainly may secure all the myrtle and turkey part of it.

Jane Austen
One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other.

Jane Austen
It will, I believe, be everywhere found, that as the clergy are, or are not what they ought to be, so are the rest of the nation.

Jane Austen
We spent Friday evening with our friends at the boarding-house, and our curiosity was gratified by the sight of their fellow-inmates, Mrs. Drew and Miss Hook, Mr. Wynne and Mr. Fitzhugh; the latter is brother to Mrs. Lance, and very much the gentleman. He has lived in that house more than twenty years, and poor man, is so totally deaf that they say he could not hear a cannon, were it fired close to him; having no cannon at hand to make the experiment, I took it for granted, and talked to him a little with my fingers, which was funny enough.

Jane Austen
There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense.

Jane Austen
But remember that the pain of parting from friends will be felt by everybody at times, whatever be their education or state. Know your own happiness. You want nothing but patience; or give it a more fascinating name: call it hope.

Jane Austen
Yet there it was not love. It was a little fever of admiration; but it might, probably must, end in love with some

Jane Austen
We all love to instruct, though we can teach only what is not worth knowing.

Jane Austen
A lady, without a family, was the very best preserver of furniture in the world.

Jane Austen
"He is also handsome," replied Elizabeth, "which a young man ought likewise to be, if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete."

Jane Austen
I cannot anyhow continue to find people agreeable; I respect Mrs. Chamberlayne for doing her hair well, but cannot feel a more tender sentiment. Miss Langley is like any other short girl, with a broad nose and wide mouth, fashionable dress and exposed bosom. Adm. Stanhope is a gentleman-like man, but then his legs are too short and his tail too long.

Jane Austen
The Webbs are really gone! When I saw the waggons at the door, and thought of all the trouble they must have in moving, I began to reproach myself for not having liked them better, but since the waggons have disappeared my conscience has been closed again, and I am excessively glad they are gone.

Jane Austen
A man always imagines a woman to be ready for anybody who asks her.

Jane Austen
Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind. But vanity, not love, has been my folly.

Jane Austen
Everyone allows that the talent of writing agreeable letters is peculiarly female.

Jane Austen
There certainly was some great mismanagement in the education of those two young men. One has got all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it.

Jane Austen
Whom are you going to dance with?' asked Mr. Knightley. She hesitated a moment and then replied, 'With you, if you will ask me.' Will you?' said he, offering his hand. Indeed I will. You have shown that you can dance, and you know we are not really so much brother and sister as to make it at all improper.' Brother and sister! no, indeed.

Jane Austen
I am going to take a heroine whom no-one but myself will much like.
On starting Emma

Jane Austen