Quotes by Jane Austen

“ But for my own part, if a book is well written, I always find it too short. ”

“ There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me. ”

“ What are men to rocks and mountains? ”

“ Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us. ”

“ You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope...I have loved none but you. ”

“ I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives. ”

“ Angry people are not always wise. ”

“ 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. ”

“ There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense. ”

“ It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. ”

“ 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! ”

“ I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal. ”