200+ "Jane Austen" Quotes And Sayings

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775, and died at age 41 on January 18, 1817. She is best known for her six published novels that include Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. She was a talented writer who also maintained a close correspondence with many of the people who were part of her life. She had a strong influence on English literature and had a significant impact on subsequent works. Her writing style is simple and direct, reflecting the values of her time period Read more

The majority of her work centers around the themes of morality, family dynamics as well as education as it relates to womanhood. In her letters she often discusses how to manage her finances as well as takes some criticism from those she writes to about some of the things she writes. Jane Austen lived in Britain during some of the most turbulent times during the early 1800s. During this time period, women were not given many opportunities to attend college or pursue a career in a field other than being a wife or mother.

Jane Austen's writing reflects these societal issues through her use of character development and dialogue. She created characters that are realistic in their mannerisms and interactions with others. This is evident in many aspects of her works including Pride and Prejudice where she depicts Elizabeth Bennet as an intelligent young woman with plenty of wit but also displays the difficulties that women face when trying to become educated in society during this time period.

There is nothing I would not do for those who...
1
There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature. Jane Austen
A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration...
2
A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment. Jane Austen
In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My...
3
In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. Jane Austen
The more I know of the world, the more I...
4
The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much! Jane Austen
I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or...
5
I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun. Jane Austen
If I could but know his heart, everything would become...
6
If I could but know his heart, everything would become easy. Jane Austen
There could have been no two hearts so open, no...
7
There could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison Jane Austen
Oh, Lizzy! do anything rather than marry without affection.
8
Oh, Lizzy! do anything rather than marry without affection. Jane Austen
9
I do not think I ever opened a book in my life which had not something to say upon woman's inconstancy. Songs and proverbs, all talk of woman's fickleness. But perhaps you will say, these were all written by men."" Perhaps I shall. Yes, yes, if you please, no reference to examples in books. Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story. Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands. I will not allow books to prove anything. . Jane Austen
She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me,...
10
She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me, and I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. Jane Austen
There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart.
11
There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart. Jane Austen
Had I been in love, I could not have been...
12
Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind. But vanity, not love, has been my folly. Jane Austen
I come here with no expectations, only to profess, now...
13
I come here with no expectations, only to profess, now that I am at liberty to do so, that my heart is and always will be...yours. Jane Austen
14
They were within twenty yards of each other, and so abrupt was his appearance, that it was impossible to avoid his sight. Their eyes instantly met, and the cheeks of each were overspread with the deepest blush. He absolutely started, and for a moment seemed immoveable from surprise; but shortly recovering himself, advanced towards the party, and spoke to Elizabeth, if not in terms of perfect composure, at least of perfect civility. Jane Austen
No man is offended by another man's admiration of the...
15
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
To wish was to hope, and to hope was to...
16
To wish was to hope, and to hope was to expect Jane Austen
17
You are mistaken, Mr. Darcy, if you suppose that the mode of your declaration affected me in any other way, than as it spared the concern which I might have felt in refusing you, had you behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner." (Elizabeth Bennett) Jane Austen
Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that...
18
Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. Jane Austen
Elizabeth's spirit's soon rising to playfulness again, she wanted Mr....
19
Elizabeth's spirit's soon rising to playfulness again, she wanted Mr. Darcy to account for his having ever fallen in love with her. 'How could you begin?' said she. begun. Jane Austen
Is not general incivility the very essence of love?
20
Is not general incivility the very essence of love? Jane Austen