Jane Austen Quotes

582 Sourced Quotes

The longer they were together the more doubtful seemed the nature of his regard, and sometimes for a few painful minutes she believed it to be no more than friendship

Jane Austen

No man is offended by another man's admiration of the woman he loves; it is the woman only who can make it a torment.

Jane Austen

There seems almost a general wish of decrying the capacity and undervaluing the labor of the novelist, and of slighting the performances which have only genius, wit, and taste to recommend them.

Jane Austen

But he recommended the books which charmed her leisure hours, he encouraged her taste, and corrected her judgment; he made reading useful by talking to her of what she read, and heightened its attraction by judicious praise.

Jane Austen

A single woman of good fortune is always respectable, and may be as sensible and pleasant as anybody else!

Jane Austen

Anne hoped she had outlived the age of blushing; but the age of emotion she certainly had not.

Jane Austen

One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight.

Jane Austen

I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.

Jane Austen

Such squeamish youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity are not worth a regret.

Jane Austen

I pay very little regard...to what any young person says on the subject of marriage. If they profess a disinclination for it, I only set it down that they have not yet seen the right person.

Jane Austen

What! Would I be turned back from doing a thing that I had determined to do, and that I knew to be right, by the airs and interference of such a person, or any person I may say? No, I have no idea of being so easily persuaded. When I have made up my mind, I have made it.

Jane Austen

Those who have not more must be satisfied with what they have.

Jane Austen

If a woman doubts as to whether she should accept a man or not, she certainly ought to refuse him. If she can hesitate as to 'Yes,' she ought to say 'No,' directly.

Jane Austen

I have no more to say. If this be the case, he deserves you. I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to any one less worthy.

Jane Austen

If this man had not twelve thousand a year, he would be a very stupid fellow.

Jane Austen

The wisest and the best of men, nay, the wisest and best of their actions, may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object in life is a joke.

Jane Austen

There seems something more speakingly incomprehensible in the powers, the failures, the inequalities of memory, than in any other of our intelligences. The memory is sometimes so retentive, so serviceable, so obedient — at others, so bewildered and so weak — and at others again, so tyrannic, so beyond control!

Jane Austen

Single women have a dreadful propensity for being poor, which is one very strong argument in favour of matrimony.

Jane Austen

There are people who the more you do for them, the less they will do for themselves.

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

The business of self-command she settled very easily; — with strong affections it was impossible, with calm ones it could have no merit.

Jane Austen

How little of permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger than their virtue.

Jane Austen

There are such beings in the world — perhaps one in a thousand — as the creature you and I should think perfection; where grace and spirit are united to worth, where the manners are equal to the heart and understanding; but such a person may not come in your way, or, if he does, he may not be the eldest son of a man of fortune, the near relation of your particular friend, and belonging to your own county.

Jane Austen

Not very good, I am afraid. But now really, do not you think Udolpho the nicest book in the world?" "The nicest—by which I suppose you mean the neatest. That must depend upon the binding.

Jane Austen

I do suspect that he is not really necessary to my happiness.

Jane Austen

There is something so amiable in the prejudices of a young mind, that one is sorry to see them give way to the reception of more general opinions.

Jane Austen

Perhaps it it our imperfections that make us so perfect for one another!

Jane Austen

That will do extremely well, child. You have delighted us long enough. Let the other young ladies have time to exhibit.

Jane Austen

The Musgroves had had the ill fortune of a very troublesome, hopeless son, and the good fortune to lose him before he reached his twentieth year.

Jane Austen

I wish I could finish stories as fast as you can. I am much obliged to you for the sight of Olivia, and think you have done for her very well; but the good-for-nothing father, who was the real author of all her faults and sufferings, should not escape unpunished. I hope he hung himself, or took the surname of Bone or underwent some direful penance or other.

Jane Austen