Quotes by Jane Austen

Run mad as often as you choose but do not faint

Sometime the worst type of weapon in the world is love.

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 the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit sense

Marianne would have thought herself very inexcusable had she been able to sleep at all the first night after parting from Willoughby. She would have been ashamed to look her family in the face next morning, had she not risen from her bed in more need of repose than when she lay down in it.

I am fond of history and am very well contented to take the false with the true. In the principal facts they have sources of intelligence in former histories and records, which may be as much depended on, I conclude, as anything that does not actually pass under ones own observation; and as for the little embellishments you speak of, they are embellishments, and I like them as such.

...for to be sunk, though but for an hour in your esteem is a humiliation to which I know not how to submit. -Susan

Reflection must be reserved for solitary hours; whenever she was alone, she gave way to it as the greatest relief; and not a day went by without a solitary walk, in which she might indulge in all the delight of unpleasant recollections.

One must not expect every thing.

And now I may dismiss my heroine to the sleepless couch, which is the true heroines portion - to a pillow strewed with thorns and wet with tears. And lucky may she think herself, if she get another good nights rest in the course of the next three months.

Catherine had never wanted comfort more, and [Henry] looked as if he was aware of it.

When shall I cease to regret you! – When learn to feel a home elsewhere! – Oh! Happy house, could you know what I suffer in now viewing you from this spot, from whence perhaps I may view you no more! – And you, ye well-known trees! – but you will continue the same. – No leaf will decay because we are removed, nor any branch become motionless although we can observe you no longer! – No; you will continue the same; unconscious of the pleasure or the regret you occasion, and insensible of any change in those who walk under your shade! – But who will remain to enjoy you?

--As I must therefore conclude that you are not serious in your rejection of me, I shall choose to attribute it to your wish of increasing my love by suspense, according to the usual practice of elegant females. --I do assure you, sir, that I have no pretensions whatever to that kind of elegance which consists in tormenting a respectable man. I would rather be paid the compliment of being believed sincere.

But history, real solemn history, I cannot be interested in. Can you?Yes, I am fond of history.I wish I were too. I read it a little as a duty, but it tells me nothing that does not either vex or weary me. The quarrels of popes and kings, with wars or pestilences, in every page; the men all so good for nothing, and hardly any women at all -- it is very tiresome.

Where the waters do agree, it is quite wonderful the relief they give.

I dearly love a laugh.

How I hate the sight of an umbrella!

I do not know where the error lies. I do not pretend to set people right, but I do see that they are often wrong.

He may have as strong a sense of what would be right, as you can have, without being so equal under particular circumstances to act up to it.Then, it would not be so strong a sense. If it failed to produce equal exertion, it could not be an equal conviction.

A very narrow income has a tendency to contract the mind, and sour the temper. Those who can barely live, and who live perforce in a very small, and generally very inferior, society, may well be illiberal and cross.

The earliest intelligence of the travellers safe arrival at Antigua, after a favourable voyage, was received; though not before Mrs. Norris had been indulging in very dreadful fears, and trying to make Edmund participate them whenever she could get him alone; and as she depended on being the first person made acquainted with any fatal catastrophe, she had already arranged the manner of breaking it to all the others, when Sir Thomass assurances of their both being alive and well made it necessary to lay by her agitation and affectionate preparatory speeches for a while.