Jane Austen

Her own thoughts and reflections were habitually her best companions.

Never could I expect to be so truly beloved and important; so always first and always right in any man's eyes as I am in my father's.

Oh! I am delighted with the book! I should like to spend my whole life in reading it.

Incline us oh God! to think humbly of ourselves, to be severe only in the examination of our own conduct, to consider our fellow-creatures with kindness, and to judge of all they say and do with that charity which we would desire from them ourselves.

To love is to burn, to be on fire.

Which of all my important nothings shall I tell you first?

I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love!- Elizabeth Bennet

Ah, mother! How do you do?' said he, giving her a hearty shake of the hand; 'Where did you get that quiz of a hat? It makes you look like an old witch...' On his two younger sisters he then bestowed an equal portion of his fraternal tenderness, for he asked each of them how they did, and observed that they both looked very ugly.

It is very difficult for the prosperous to be humble.

Is there not something wanted, Miss Price, in our language - a something between compliments and - and love - to suit the sort of friendly acquaintance we have had together?

I will only add, God bless you.

Oh!” said she, “I heard you before, but I could not immediately determine what to say in reply. You wanted me, I know, to say ‘Yes,’ that you might have the pleasure of despising my taste; but I always delight in overthrowing those kind of schemes, and cheating a person of their premeditated contempt. I have, therefore made up my mind to tell you, that I do not want to dance a reel at all--and now despise me if you dare.” “Indeed I do not dare.

To begin perfect happiness at the respective ages of 26 and 18 is to do pretty well.

Oh, Lizzy! do anything rather than marry without affection.

And you are never to stir out of doors till you can prove that you have spent ten minutes of every day in a rational manner.

To yield readily--easily--to the persuasion of a friend is no merit.... To yield without conviction is no compliment to the understanding of either.

Teach us almighty father, to consider this solemn truth, as we should do, that we may feel the importance of every day, and every hour as it passes.

Anne hoped she had outlived the age of blushing; but the age of emotion she certainly had not.

I wish I might take this for a compliment; but to be so easily seen through I am afraid is pitiful.

When once married people begin to attack me with, 'Oh! you will think very differently, when you are married,' I can only say, 'No I shall not'; and then they say again, 'Yes you will,' and there is an end to it.

Mrs. Jennings was a widow, with an ample jointure. She had only two daughters, both of whom she had lived to see respectably married, and she had now therefore nothing to do but to marry all the rest of the world.