Quotessence
Home / Authors / Jane Austen
Jane Austen

Jane Austen Quotes

Novelist

Filter quotes by topic

AllMenJane AustenIfsLoveMansfield ParkPersuasionPrejudiceMayAnne ElliotJanePride And Prejudice PrideThinkingLiteraturePeopleHeartInspiringKnowsWorldFrederick WentworthWells

Famous Jane Austen Quotes

“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.”

IfsThinkingMenWorldWayShouldHeartMayPersonsDoeSpiritUnderstandingUnitedGraceParticularHe ManSonThousandCreaturesEqualPerfectionRelationFortuneMannersBelongingCountyEldestEldest Son
Book:Jane Austen's correspondence and letters: The complete and definitive edition
Create image

“she was oppressed, she was overcome by her own felicity; and happily disposed as is the human mind to be easily familiarized with any change for the better, it required several hours to give sedateness to her spirits, or any degree of tranquillity to her heart.”

GivingMindHumansHeartSpiritHoursDegreesOvercomingHuman MindOppressedFelicityChange For The BetterTranquillity
Book:Sense and Sensibility: Top 100 Classic Novels
Create image

“She tried to be calm, and leave things to take their course; and tried to dwell much on this argument of rational dependence – “Surely, if there be constant attachment on each side, our hearts must understand each other ere long. We are not boy and girl, to be captiously irritable, misled by every moment’s inadvertence, and wantonly playing with our own happiness.” And yet, a few minutes afterwards, she felt as if their being in company with each other, under their present circumstances, could only be exposing them to inadvertencies and misconstructions of the most mischievous kind.”

IfsHeartKindLongMomentsGirlCoursesFeltSidesCompanyBoysMinutesCircumstancesArgumentConstantCalmRationalAttachmentDependenceExposingBoy And GirlMisledMischievous
Book:The Jane Austen Library: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Emma, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, Lady Susan, Watsons, Sanditon
Create image

“He could not forgive her, but he could not be unfeeling. Though condemning her for the past, and considering it with high and unjust resentment, though perfectly careless of her, and though becoming attached to another, still he could not see her suffer, without the desire of giving her relief. It was a remainder of former sentiment; it was an impulse of pure, though unacknowledged friendship; it was a proof of his own warm and amiable heart.”

GivingHeartStillsPainPastDesireSufferingPleasureEmotionBecomingPureUnderstoodForgivingWarmProofFormerReliefSentimentsResentmentContemplatingConsideringCarelessPain And PleasureCondemningAmiableUnfeeling
Author:Jane Austen
Create image

“There is no reason in the world why you should not be important where you are known. You have good sense, and a sweet temper, and I am sure you have a grateful heart, that could never receive kindness without hoping to return it. I do not know any better qualifications for a friend and companion.”

KnowsWorldShouldHeartImportantReasonKnownKindnessSweetReturnGratefulNo ReasonCompanionWhere You AreTemperGood SenseQualificationsGrateful Heart
Book:Jane Austen Collection: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, Emma, Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, Lady Susan, Love and Friendship and Other Austin Works
Create image

“If a woman conceals her affection with the same skill from the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him; and it will then be but poor consolation to believe the world equally in the dark. There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost any attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all begin ‘freely’- as light preference is natural enough; but there are very few of us who have a heart enough to be really in love without encouragement.”

IfsWorldBelieveHeartMayEnoughLightOpportunityLosesNaturalDarkPoorObjectsGratitudeSkillsSafeEncouragementAffectionVanityAttachmentPreferenceConsolationFixing
Author:Jane Austen
Create image

“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight and a half years ago. Dare not say that a man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant.”

MenYearsHeartMayHas BeensSoulFeelingsForgetHalfGoneOffersLateYears AgoWeakDareEightMy SoulBrokeToo LateAgonyUnjustPersuasionHis LoveYou AgainPierceHalf A YearResentful
Book:Persuasion: World Classics
Create image

“I do assure you, Sir, that I have no pretension whatever of that kind of elegance which consists in tormenting a respectable man. I would rather be paid the compliment of being believed sincere. I thank you again and again for the honour you have done me in your proposals, but to accept them is absolutely impossible. My feelings in every respect forbid it. Can I speak plainer? Do not consider me now as an elegant female intending to plague you, but as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart.”

MenHeartKindDoneFeelingsSpeakAcceptingImpossibleCreaturesFemalePaidRationalSincereHonourComplimentAgain And AgainElegantElegancePlagueProposalRespectableSpeak The TruthYou AgainPretensionRespectable ManHonour You
Book:Pride and Prejudice
Create image

“What do you know of my heart? What do you know of anything but your own suffering. For weeks, Marianne, I've had this pressing on me without being at liberty to speak of it to a single creature. It was forced on me by the very person whose prior claims ruined all my hope. I have endured her exultations again and again whilst knowing myself to be divided from Edward forever. Believe me, Marianne, had I not been bound to silence I could have provided proof enough of a broken heart, even for you.”

KnowsBelieveHeartPersonsEnoughSufferingSpeakSilenceLibertyForeverKnowingWeekBrokenMy HeartCreaturesClaimsBoundsProofDo You KnowDividedBelieve In MeAgain And AgainSensibilityRuinedPressing OnMarianne DashwoodKnowing Myself
Author:Jane Austen
Create image

“There could have never been 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.”

HeartTwoFeelingsTasteStrangerBelovedPerpetualCountenanceEstrangementUnisonTwo Hearts
Book:The Complete Novels of Jane Austen, Volume 2: Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion
Create image

“The evil of the actual disparity in their ages (and Mr. Woodhouse had not married early) was much increased by his constitution and habits; for having been a valetudinarian all his life, without activity of mind or body, he was a much older man in ways than in years; and though everywhere beloved for the friendliness of his heart and his amiable temper, his talents could not have recommended him at any time.”

MenWayLoveYearsMindHeartBodyAgeEvilTalentHabitActivityMarriedConstitutionBelovedTemperTime LoveDisparityAmiableFriendlinessOlder Man
Book:Emma
Create image

“You, of all people, deserve a happy ending Despite everything that happened to you, you aren't bitter You aren't cold You've just retreated a little and been shy, and that's okay If I were a fairy godmother, I would give you your heart's desire in an instant And I would wipe away your tears and tell you not to cry "A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of"”

PeopleIfsGivingHeartLittlesHappinessDesireHappenedHeardCryTearsColdDeserveOkayIncomeDespiteBitterInstantFairyShyRecipesWipeHappy EndingsGodmotherFairy Godmother
Author:Jane Austen
Create image