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Jane Austen
152 QuotesQuotes by Jane Austen
"They were within twenty yards of each other, and so abrupt was his appearance, that it was impossible to avoid his sight. Their eyes instantly met, and the cheeks of each were overspread with the deepest blush. He absolutely started, and for a moment seemed immoveable from surprise; but shortly recovering himself, advanced towards the party, and spoke to Elizabeth, if not in terms of perfect composure, at least of perfect civility."
"I come here with no expectations, only to profess, now that I am at liberty to do so, that my heart is and always will be...yours."
"Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind. But vanity, not love, has been my folly."
"There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart."
"She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me, and I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men."
"I do not think I ever opened a book in my life which had not something to say upon woman's inconstancy. Songs and proverbs, all talk of woman's fickleness. But perhaps you will say, these were all written by men.""Perhaps I shall. Yes, yes, if you please, no reference to examples in books. Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story. Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands. I will not allow books to prove anything."
"Oh, Lizzy! do anything rather than marry without affection."
"There could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison"
"If I could but know his heart, everything would become easy."
"I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun."
"The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!"
"In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."
"A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment."
"There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature."
"Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride - where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation."
"It is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are they the result of previous study?"
"I cannot speak well enough to be unintelligible."
"Stupid men are the only ones worth knowing after all."
"Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings."
"I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal."
"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid."
"And to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading."