Jane Austen

Everything united in her good understanding, correct opinions, knowledge of the world and a warm heart

There is nothing like employment, active indispensable employment, for relieving sorrow.

If any young men come for Mary or Kitty, send them in, for I am quite at leisure.

. . . she had prejudices on the side of ancestry she had a value for rank and consequence, which blinded her a little to the faults of those who possessed them.

Elinor was to be the comforter of others in her own distresses . . .

They gave themselves up wholly to their sorrow, seeking increase of wretchedness in every reflection that could afford it, and resolved against ever admitting consolation in future.

. . . provided that nothing like useful knowledge could be gained from them, provided they were all story and no reflection, she had never any objection to books at all.

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.

What is right to be done cannot be done too soon.

To flatter and follow others, without being flattered and followed in turn, is but a state of half enjoyment.

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.

There are people, the more you do for them, the less they do for themselves.

Selfishness must always be forgiven you know, because there is no hope of a cure.

No man is offended by another man's admiration of the woman he loves it is the woman only who can make it a torment.

If things are going untowardly one month, they are sure to mend the next.

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.

I cannot speak well enough to be unintelligible.

General benevolence, but not general friendship, made a man what he ought to be.

One man's style must not be the rule of another's.

An artist cannot do anything slovenly.

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

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.

Nobody minds having what is too good for them.

One man's ways may be as good as another's, but we all like our own best.

There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart.