Quotes by Jane Austen

About Jane Austen:

Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature. Her realism, biting irony and social commentary as well as her acclaimed plots have gained her historical importance among scholars and critics.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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

Jane Austen

He had suffered, and he had learnt to think, two advantages that he had never known before…

Jane Austen

But indeed I would rather have nothing but tea.

Jane Austen

These were reflections that required some time to soften; but time will do almost every thing…

Jane Austen

Let him have all the perfections in the world, I think it ought not to be set down as certain that a man must be acceptable to every woman he may happen to like himself.

Jane Austen

She wished such words unsaid with all her heart

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

I cannot speak well enough to be unintelligible.

Jane Austen

But Catherine did not know her own advantages - did not know that a good-looking girl, with an affectionate heart and a very ignorant mind, cannot fail of attracting a clever young man, unless circumstances are particularly untoward.

Jane Austen

You men have none of you any hearts.' 'If we have not hearts, we have eyes; and they give us torment enough.

Jane Austen

To look pretty is an acquisition of higher delight to a girl who has been looking plain the first fifteen years of her life than a beauty from her cradle can ever receive.

Jane Austen

I am no novel-reader -- I seldom look into novels -- Do not imagine that I often read novels -- It is really very well for a novel." Such is the common cant. "And what are you reading, Miss -- ?" "Oh! It is only a novel!" replies the young lady, whil...

Jane Austen

It is only a novel... or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour, are...

Jane Austen

To come with a well-informed mind is to come with an inability of administering to the vanity of others, which a sensible person would always wish to avoid. A woman especially, if she have the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well...

Jane Austen

Every young lady may feel for my heroine in this critical moment, for every young lady has at some time or other known the same agitation. All have been, or at least all have believed themselves to be, in danger from the pursuit of some one they wish...

Jane Austen

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

Jane Austen

If I could not be persuaded into doing what I thought wrong, I will never be tricked into it.

Jane Austen

Remember the country and the age in which we live. Remember that we are English, that we are Christians. Consult your own understanding, your own sense of the probable [...]. Does our education prepare us for such atrocities? Do our laws connive at t...

Jane Austen

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

Jane Austen

And such is your definition of matrimony and dancing. Taken in that light, certainly their resemblance is not striking; but I think I could place them in such a view. You will allow that in both man has the advantage of choice, woman only the power o...

Jane Austen

The advantages of natural folly in a beautiful girl have been already set forth by the capital pen of a sister author; and to her treatment of the subject I will only add, in justice to men, that though to the larger and more trifling part of the sex...

Jane Austen

Author Bio

  • NameJane Austen
  • DescriptionEnglish novelist
  • BornDecember 16, 1775
  • DiedJuly 18, 1817
  • CountryUnited Kingdom
  • ProfessionNovelist; Writer