Jane Austen was an English novelist and an iconic figure of the world literature. She is known primarily for her six major novels, which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century.
Her famous novels, “Pride and Prejudice” and “Sense and Sensibility,” are considered literary classics, bridging the gap between romance and realism. Witty Jane Austen quotes will make you rethink, and brighten up your life.
If you’re searching for famous quotations about life that perfectly capture what you’d like to say or just want to feel inspired yourself, browse through an amazing collection of the most brilliant William Shakespeare quotes, stunning Rupi Kaur quotes, and fantastic Edgar Allan Poe quotes.
Best Jane Austen Quotes
Vanity working on a weak head, produces every sort of mischief. Jane Austen
The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid. Jane Austen
Selfishness must always be forgiven you know, because there is no hope of a cure. Jane Austen
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. Jane Austen
The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid. Jane Austen
I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library. Jane Austen
A woman, especially, if she have the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can. Jane Austen
A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment. Jane Austen
One man’s style must not be the rule of another’s. Jane Austen
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. Jane Austen
I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal. Jane Austen
I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal. Jane Austen
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. Jane Austen
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! Jane Austen
There are certainly not so many men of large fortune in the world, as there are pretty women to deserve them. Jane Austen
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. Jane Austen
The power of doing anything with quickness is always prized much by the possessor, and often without any attention to the imperfection of the performance. Jane Austen
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. Jane Austen
Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure. Jane Austen
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. Jane Austen
In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better show more affection than she feels. Jane Austen
Angry people are not always wise. Jane Austen
If things are going untowardly one month, they are sure to mend the next. Jane Austen
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. Jane Austen
One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other. Jane Austen
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. Jane Austen
Give a girl an education and introduce her properly into the world, and ten to one but she has the means of settling well, without further expense to anybody. Jane Austen
You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. I have loved none but you. Jane Austen
Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone. No man will admire her the more, no woman will like her the better for it. Neatness and fashion are enough for the former, and a something of shabbiness or impropriety will be most endearing to the latter. Jane Austen
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. Jane Austen
Surprises are foolish things. The pleasure is not enhanced, and the inconvenience is often considerable. Jane Austen
What are men to rocks and mountains? Jane Austen
Nothing ever fatigues me but doing what I do not like. Jane Austen
I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine. Jane Austen
Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery. Jane Austen
Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort. Jane Austen
There is something so amiable in the prejudices of a young mind, that one is sorry to see them give way to the reception of more general opinions. Jane Austen
I must learn to be content with being happier than I deserve. Jane Austen
One does not love a place the less for having suffered in it, unless it has been all suffering, nothing but suffering. Jane Austen
If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more. Jane Austen
Business, you know, may bring you money, but friendship hardly ever does. Jane Austen
The Very first moment I beheld him, my heart was irrevocably gone. Jane Austen
My sore throats are always worse than anyone’s. Jane Austen
Silly things do cease to be silly if they are done by sensible people in an impudent way. Jane Austen
There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart. Jane Austen
You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged; but one word from you will silence me on this subject for ever. Jane Austen
Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings. Jane Austen
Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion. Jane Austen
To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment. Jane Austen
Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love. Jane Austen
There are people, who the more you do for them, the less they will do for themselves. Jane Austen
I have not the pleasure of understanding you. Jane Austen
Nobody minds having what is too good for them. Jane Austen
I may have lost my heart, but not my self control. Jane Austen
For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors and laugh at them in our turn? Jane Austen
I am the happiest creature in the world. Perhaps other people have said so before, but not one with such justice. I am happier even than Jane; she only smiles, I laugh. Jane Austen
To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love. Jane Austen
When I fall in love, it will be forever. Jane Austen
Those who do not complain are never pitied. Jane Austen
Give a girl an education and introduce her properly into the world, and ten to one but she has the means of settling well, without further expense to anybody. Jane Austen
General benevolence, but not general friendship, made a man what he ought to be. Jane Austen
For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn? Jane Austen
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. Jane Austen
I cannot make speeches, Emma. If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more. But you know what I am. You hear nothing but truth from me. I have blamed you, and lectured you, and you have borne it as no other woman in England would have borne it. Jane Austen
We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be. Jane Austen
You must learn some of my philosophy. Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure. Jane Austen
Every man is surrounded by a neighborhood of voluntary spies. Jane Austen
An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do. Jane Austen
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. Jane Austen
It is only a novel or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour, are conveyed to the world in the best chosen language. Jane Austen
Human nature is so well disposed towards those who are in interesting situations, that a young person, who either marries or dies, is sure of being kindly spoken of. Jane Austen
I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch for. It is, I believe, too little yielding certainly too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of other so soon as I ought, nor their offenses against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost forever. Jane Austen
One man’s ways may be as good as another’s, but we all like our own best. Jane Austen
Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings. Jane Austen
A mind lively and at ease, can do with seeing nothing, and can see nothing that does not answer. Jane Austen
We all know him to be a proud, unpleasant sort of man; but this would be nothing if you really liked him. Jane Austen
How quick come the reasons for approving what we like! Jane Austen
He is a gentleman, and I am a gentleman’s daughter. So far we are equal. Jane Austen
We do not look in our great cities for our best morality. Jane Austen
There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil, a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome. And your defect is a propensity to hate everybody. And yours, he replied with a smile, is wilfully to misunderstand them. Jane Austen
A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of. Jane Austen
A girl likes to be crossed a little in love now and then. It is something to think of. Jane Austen
There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort. Jane Austen
Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised or a little mistaken. Jane Austen
My idea of good company is the company of clever, well informed people who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company. Jane Austen
There could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison. Jane Austen
It is always incomprehensible to a man that a woman should ever refuse an offer of marriage. Jane Austen
Nothing ever fatigues me, but doing what I do not like. Jane Austen
Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love. Jane Austen
I wish, as well as everybody else, to be perfectly happy; but, like everybody else, it must be in my own way. Jane Austen
The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. Jane Austen
What strange creatures brothers are! Jane Austen
Nothing is more deceitful than the appearance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast. Jane Austen
