Jane Austen Quotes That Will Inspire You to Live Your Best Life

1. …Elizabeth, agitated and confused, rather knew that she was happy, than felt herself to be so… Pride and Prejudice

2. …for I look upon the Frasers to be about as unhappy as most other married people. Mansfield Park

3. …one half of her should not be always so much wiser than the other half… Persuasion

4. …she had nothing to do but to forgive herself and be happier than ever… Northanger Abbey

5. [I]t is well to have as many holds upon happiness as possible. Northanger Abbey

6. A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment. Pride and Prejudice

7. A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment. Pride and Prejudice

8. A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of. Mansfield Park

9. And pictures of perfection, as you know, make me sick and wicked.

10. Angry people are not always wise. Pride and Prejudice

11. But above all, above respect and esteem, there was a motive within her of good will which could not be overlooked. It was gratitude. -- Gratitude, not merely for having once loved her, but for loving her still well enough, to forgive all the petulance and acrimony of her manner in rejecting him, and all the unjust accusations accompanying her rejection. He who, she had been persuaded, would avoid her as his greatest enemy, seemed, on this accidental meeting, most eager to preserve the acquaintance, and without any indelicate display of regard, or any peculiarity of manner, where their two selves only were concerned, was soliciting the good opinion of her friends, and bent on making her known to his sister. Pride and Prejudice

12. But I hate to hear you talking so like a fine gentleman, and as if women were all fine ladies, instead of rational creatures. We none of us expect to be in smooth water all our days. Persuasion

13. But indeed I would rather have nothing but tea. Mansfield Park

14. But there was happiness elsewhere which no description can reach. Mansfield Park

15. But to appear happy when I am so miserable — Oh! who can require it? Sense and Sensibility

16. But to live in ignorance on such a point was impossible. Pride and Prejudice

17. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. Persuasion

18. Elizabeth's spirit's soon rising to playfulness again, she wanted Mr. Darcy to account for his having ever fallen in love with her. 'How could you begin?' said she.'I can comprehend your going on charmingly, when you had once made a beginning; but what could set you off in the first place?' '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. Pride and Prejudice

19. Every impulse of feeling should be guided by reason; and, in my opinion, exertion should always be in proportion to what is required. Pride and Prejudice

20. Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind. But vanity, not love, has been my folly. Pride and Prejudice

21. Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind. But vanity, not love, has been my folly. Pride and Prejudice

22. Half the sum of attraction, on either side, might have been enough, for he had nothing to do, and she had hardly anybody to love. Persuasion

23. Happiness must preclude false indulgence and physic. Emma

24. Have you any other objection than your belief of my indifference? Pride and Prejudice

25. He will make you happy, Fanny; I know he will make you happy; but you will make him everything. Mansfield Park

26. his feelings as to a first, strong attachment; sentences begun which he could not finish, his half averted eyes and more than half expressive glance; all, all declared that he had a heart returning to her at least; that anger, resentment, avoidance, were no more; and that they were succeeded, not merely by friendship or regard, but by the tenderness of the past. Yes, some share of the tenderness of the past. she could not contemplate the change as implying less. He must love her. Persuasion

27. How often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparation! Emma

28. 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. Pride and Prejudice

29. I can feel no sentiment of approbation inferior to love. Sense and Sensibility

30. I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have brought me to Bath. For you alone, I think and plan. Have you not seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine. I can hardly write. I am every instant hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others. Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice, indeed. You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men. Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating, in F. W.I must go, uncertain of my fate; but I shall return hither, or follow your party, as soon as possible. A word, a look, will be enough to decide whether I enter your father's house this evening or never. Persuasion