Jane Austen

A report of a most alarming nature reached me two days ago.

I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.

Her form, though not so correct as her sister's, in having the advantage of height, was more striking; and her face was so lovely, that when in the common cant of praise she was called a beautiful girl, truth was less violently outraged than usually happens.

Real solemn history, I cannot be interested in.... The quarrels of popes and kings, with wars and pestilences in every page; the men all so good for nothing, and hardly any women at all.

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

I assure you. I have no notion of treating men with such respect. That is the way to spoil them.

When the evening was over, Anne could not be amused…nor could she help fearing, on more serious reflection, that, like many other great moralists and preachers, she had been eloquent on a point in which her own conduct would ill bear examination.

I do not think it worth while to wait for enjoyment until there is some real opportunity for it.

You deserve a longer letter than this; but it is my unhappy fate seldom to treat people so well as they deserve.

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.

Miss Morland, no one can think more highly of the understanding of women than I do. In my opinion, nature has given them so much, that they never find it necessary to use more than half.

she was oppressed, she was overcome by her own felicity; and happily disposed as is the human mind to be easily familiarized with any change for the better, it required several hours to give sedateness to her spirits, or any degree of tranquillity to her heart.

Elinor could sit still no longer. She almost ran out of the room, and as soon as the door was closed, burst into tears of joy, which at first she thought would never cease.

You must learn some of my philosophy. Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.

A man does not recover from such devotion of the heart to such a woman! He ought not; he does not.

I always deserve the best treatment because I never put up with any other.

What are men to rocks and mountains?

When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable If I have not an excellent library.

Upon the whole, therefore, she found what had been sometimes found before, that an event to which she had looked forward with impatient desire, did not, in taking place, bring all the satisfaction she had promised herself.

Here I have opportunity enough for the exercise of my talent, as the chief of my time is spent in conversation.

I was quiet but I was not blind.