English novelist (1775-1817)
Nothing is more deceitful than the appearance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast.
JANE AUSTEN
Pride and Prejudice
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
Northanger Abbey
I cannot help thinking that it is more natural to have flowers grow out of the head than fruit.
JANE AUSTEN
letter to Cassandra Austen, Jun. 11, 1799
I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.
JANE AUSTEN
Pride and Prejudice
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
Mansfield Park
Mary wished to say something very sensible, but knew not how.
JANE AUSTEN
Pride and Prejudice
I could not sit seriously down to write a serious romance under any other motive than to save my life; and if it were indispensable for me to keep it up and never relax into laughing at myself or other people, I am sure I should be hung before I had finished the first chapter. No, I must keep to my own style and go on in my own way; and though I may never succeed again in that, I am convinced that I should totally fail in any other.
JANE AUSTEN
letter to Mr. Clarke, Apr. 1, 1816
One cannot be always laughing at a man without now and then stumbling on something witty.
JANE AUSTEN
Pride and Prejudice
I wish, as well as everybody else, to be perfectly happy; but, like everybody else, it must be in my own way.
JANE AUSTEN
Sense and Sensibility
Next week I shall begin my operations on my hat, on which you know my principal hopes of happiness depend.
JANE AUSTEN
letter, Oct. 27, 1798
One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other.
JANE AUSTEN
Emma
Vanity working on a weak head produces every sort of mischief.
JANE AUSTEN
Emma
Single women have a dreadful propensity for being poor, which is one very strong argument in favour of matrimony.
JANE AUSTEN
letter to Fanny Knight, Mar. 13, 1817
It would be mortifying to the feelings of many ladies, could they be made to understand how little the heart of a man is affected by what is costly or new in their attire.
JANE AUSTEN
Northanger Abbey
What praise is more valuable than the praise of an intelligent servant?
JANE AUSTEN
Pride and Prejudice
If one scheme of happiness fails, human nature turns to another; if the first calculation is wrong, we make a second better: we find comfort somewhere.
JANE AUSTEN
Mansfield Park
Silly things do cease to be silly if they are done by sensible people in an impudent way.
JANE AUSTEN
Emma
I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me.
JANE AUSTEN
Pride and Prejudice
To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love.
JANE AUSTEN
Pride and Prejudice
Do not give way to useless alarm; though it is right to be prepared for the worst, there is no occasion to look on it as certain.
JANE AUSTEN
Pride and Prejudice