Jane Austen Novel Quotes

'Emma' is my favorite Jane Austen novel - one of my favorite novels period; a novel about intelligence outsmarting itself, about a complicated, nuanced, irresistible heroine who does everything wrong. ~ Cathleen Schine

Was like being in a Jane Austen novel, but one with far less clothing. It ~ Terry Pratchett

Fpr ome aftermppm a week leading up to the formal, the entire senior school body would pile into our massive gymnasium and learn dances that we would NEVER DANCE AGAIN, except at our own children's formals, perhaps. Nevertheless, we threw ourselves into the task as if we were living in a Jane Austen novel and this was the only way we would ever fit into society. (from How to Be Happy: A Memoir of Love, Sex and Teenage Confusion) ~ David Burton

I wondered if there were ever times when Dad didn't sound like he escaped from a Jane Austen novel. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Never in any Jane Austen novel did the love interest pretend to be a fortune-teller," Helen said, "Why would someone do that? ~ Cynthia Hand

How I wish I lived in a Jane Austen novel! ~ Dodie Smith

It was like being in a Jane Austen novel, but one with far less clothing. ~ Terry Pratchett

She was, in fact, beginning very much to wonder that she had ever thought him pleasing at all; and his sight was so inseparably connected with some very disagreeable feelings, that, except in a moral light, as a penance, a lesson, a source of profitable humiliation to her own mind, she would have ~ Jane Austen

A few months more, and he, perhaps, may be walking here. ~ Jane Austen

Miss Darcy was tall and on a larger scale than Elizabeth and though little more than sixteen her figure was formed and her appearance womanly and graceful. She was less handsome than her brother but there was sense and good humour in her face and her manners were perfectly unassuming and gentle. Elizabeth who had expected to find in her as acute and unembarrassed an observer as ever Mr. Darcy had been was much relieved by discerning such different feelings. ~ Jane Austen

should infinitely prefer a book. ~ Jane Austen

Anne wondered whether it ever occurred to him now, to question the
justness of his own previous opinion as to the universal felicity and
advantage of firmness of character; and whether it might not strike him
that, like all other qualities of the mind, it should have its
proportions and limits. She thought it could scarcely escape him to
feel that a persuadable temper might sometimes be as much in favour of
happiness as a very resolute character. ~ Jane Austen

For it was a truth universally acknowledged that a single vicar must be in want of a wife. ~ G.M. Malliet

And so well was she able to answer her own expectations, that when she joined them at dinner only two hours after she had first suffered the extinction of all her dearest hopes, no one would have supposed from the appearance of the sisters, that Elinor was mourning in secret over obstacles which must divide her for ever from the object of her love ~ Jane Austen

Her pleasure in the walk must arise from the exercise and the day, from the view of the last smiles of the year upon the tawny leaves and withered hedges, and from repeating to herself some few of the thousand poetical descriptions extant of autumn
that season of peculiar and inexhaustible influence on the mind of taste and tenderness
that season which has drawn from every poet worthy of being read some attempt at description, or some lines of feeling. ~ Jane Austen

She will be more hurt by it, for Robert always was her favourite. - She will be more hurt by it, and on the same principle will forgive him much sooner. ~ Jane Austen

Indeed how can one care for those one has never seen? ~ Jane Austen

If there is any thing disagreeable going on, men are always sure to get out of it. ~ Jane Austen

I never could be so happy as you. Till I have your disposition, your goodness, I never can have your happiness. ~ Jane Austen

Just the omission of Jane Austen's books alone would make a fairly good library out of a library that hadn't a book in it. ~ Mark Twain

He knew her illnesses; they never occurred but for her own convenience. ~ Jane Austen

I did not have an opportunity to speak privately with Peter until just as he was leaving, when he handed me one of the Burns song-sheets and (with a most earnest look) told me to read it before I went to bed.
The song was 'My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose,' but it was not until was up in my bedchamber that I saw he had written on the inside page: 'My mother would be honoured if you visited her after church tomorrow. ~ Jennifer Paynter

He had caught both substance and shadow - both fortune and affection, and was just the happy man he ought to be. ~ Jane Austen

Jane Austen never repeats herself. ~ Mary Lascelles

That Lady Russell of steady age and character, and extrememly well provided for,should have no thought of a second marriage needs no apology to the public, which is rather apt to be unreasonalbly discontented when a woman 'does' marry again,than when she does not, but Sir William's continuing in singleness requires explanation. ~ Jane Austen

Everybody's heart is open, you know, when they have recently escaped from severe pain, or are recovering the blessing of health. ~ Jane Austen

A straightforward, open-hearted man like Weston, and a rational, unaffected woman like Miss Taylor, may be safely left to manage their own concerns. You are more likely to have done harm to yourself, than good to them, by interference." "Emma never thinks of herself, if she can do good to others," rejoined Mr. Woodhouse, understanding but in part. "But, my dear, pray do not make any more matches; they are silly things, and break up one's family circle grievously. ~ Jane Austen

Facts or opinions which are to pass through the hands of so many, to be misconceived by folly in one, and ignorance in another, can hardly have much truth left. ~ Jane Austen

I often think," she said, "that there is nothing so bad as parting with one's friends. One seems to forlorn without them. ~ Jane Austen

The longer they were together the more doubtful seemed the nature of his regard, and sometimes for a few painful minutes she believed it to be no more than friendship ~ Jane Austen

Jane Austen was an extraordinary woman; to actually be able to survive as a novelist in those days - unmarried - was just unheard of. ~ Julie Walters

There used to be two of us always on the look-out for life, talking to Miss Blossom at night, wondering, hoping; two Bronte-Jane Austen girls, poor but spirited, two Girls of Godsend Castle. ~ Dodie Smith

What a good-for-nothing-fellow Charles is to bespeak the stockings - I hope he will be too hot all the rest of his life for it! - ~ Jane Austen

Marianne could never love by halves. ~ Jane Austen

The only source whence any thing like consolation or composure could be drawn, was in the resolution of her own better conduct, and the hope that, however inferior in spirit and gaiety might be the following and every future winter of her life to the past, it would yet find her more rational, more acquainted with herself, and leave her less to regret when it were gone. ~ Jane Austen

Charlotte Palmer is no sillier than Harriet Smith; and yet, how intolerable we should find it to see and hear as much of Charlotte as we do of Harriet! And would Miss Bates have been endurable if she had been presented in the mood and manners of Sense and Sensibility? ~ Mary Lascelles

An invitation to dinner was soon afterwards dispatched; and already had Mrs. Bennet planned the courses that were to do credit to her housekeeping, when an answer arrived which deferred it all. Mr. Bingley was obliged to be in town the following day, and, consequently, unable to accept the honour of their invitation, etc. Mrs. Bennet was quite disconcerted. She could not imagine what business he could have in town so soon after his arrival in Hertfordshire; and she began to fear that he might be always flying about from one place to another, and never settled at Netherfield as he ought to be. Lady Lucas quieted her fears a little by starting the idea of his being gone to London only to get a large party for the ball; and a report soon followed that Mr. Bingley was to bring twelve ladies and seven gentlemen with him to the assembly. The girls grieved over such a number of ladies, but were comforted the day before the ball by hearing, that instead of twelve he brought only six with him from London - his five sisters and a cousin. And when the party entered the assembly room it consisted of only five altogether - Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of the eldest, and another young man. ~ Jane Austen

What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance. ~ Jane Austen

I do not know where the error lies. I do not pretend to set people right, but I do see they are often wrong. ~ Jane Austen

There are secrets in all families, you know. ~ Jane Austen

The dog show emphasizes bloodline, appearance, and comportment, but money and breeding are never far from anyone's mind. ~ Karen Joy Fowler

Can I promise to be wiser than so many of my fellow-creatures if I am tempted, or how am I even ~ Jane Austen

One cannot know what a man really is by
the end of a fortnight. ~ Jane Austen

To Jane Austen, every fool is a treasure trove. ~ Mason Cooley

I don't believe anything will keep the right reader & the right book apart. But our literary loves are as diverse as our human! You couldn't make me like Henry James or dislike Jane Austen whatever you did. ~ C.S. Lewis

Money is the best recipe for happiness. ~ Jane Austen

I would have jumped out and run after you.'
Is there a Henry in the world who could be insensible to such a declaration? Henry Tilney at least was not. With a yet sweeter smile, he said every thing that need be said ... ~ Jane Austen

I think Jane Austen builds suspense well in a couple of places, but she squanders it, and she gets to the endgame too quickly. So I will be working on those things. ~ Val McDermid

I am not afraid; for though I am the youngest, I'm the tallest. ~ Jane Austen

Sitting with her on Sunday evening - a wet Sunday evening - the very time of all others when if a friend is at hand the heart must be opened, and every thing told ... ~ Jane Austen

Fraternal love, sometimes almost every thing, is at others worse than nothing. ~ Jane Austen

I will read you their names directly; here they are in my pocket-book. Castle of Wolfenbach, Clermont, Mysterious Warnings, Necromancer of the Black Forest, Midnight Bell, Orphan of the Rhine, and Horrid Mysteries. Those will last us some time. '
' ... but are they all horrid? Are you sure they are all horrid?'
'Yes, quite sure; for a particular friend of mine, a Miss Andrews, a sweet girl, one of the sweetest creatures in the world, has read every one of them. ~ Jane Austen