Jane Austen
Independent, beautiful, and sharpminded, Emma Woodhouse loves to interfere in the romances of those she holds dear, but her meddlesome ways often land her in many comically tight spots.
Few authors have captured the human heart and mind with the precision, humour, and insight of Jane Austen. Whether you’re searching for the perfect line to include in a wedding reading, an unforgettable quote about friendship, or simply want to lose yourself in the brilliance of Austen’s wit, this hand-picked selection of Jane Austen quotes offers the very best of her words.
From the sparkling conversations of Pride and Prejudice to the quiet truths of Persuasion, here are some of the best Jane Austen quotes, organised by theme for every occasion.
When it comes to love, longing, and the perfectly phrased declaration, these Jane Austen quotes about love are second to none.
‘You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope.’
‘A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony, in a moment.’
‘If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.’
Jane Austen
Independent, beautiful, and sharpminded, Emma Woodhouse loves to interfere in the romances of those she holds dear, but her meddlesome ways often land her in many comically tight spots.
‘There could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison, no countenances so beloved.’
‘You are inimitable, irresistible. You are the delight of my life. (…) You are the paragon of all that is silly and sensible, commonplace and eccentric, sad and lively, provoking and interesting.’
‘You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.’
Jane Austen
Arguably one of the best-loved novels in English literature, having sold more than 20 million copies, follow the spirited Elizabeth Bennet in a timeless tale of love, class, and social intrigue.
Jane Austen understood the small joys and quiet frustrations of family life. Her quotes about friendship and kinship are full of affection, irony, and truth.
‘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.’
‘There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.’
‘Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.’
‘It is very, very gratifying to me to know you so intimately. You can hardly think what a pleasure it is to me to have such thorough pictures of your heart.’
Jane Austen
Revealing the rich inner life of a literary genius, this large collection of Austen’s correspondence offers a unique and intimate glimpse into her daily life, relationships, and creative process.
Austen was a voracious reader and an elegant writer, never afraid to poke fun at her own craft. Discover these wonderful Jane Austen quotes on reading and writing.
‘The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.’
‘He has lent us Miss Williams and Scott, and says that any book of his will always be at my service. In short, I am soothed and complimented into tolerable comfort.’
‘Oh! I am delighted with the book! I should like to spend my whole life in reading it.’
Jane Austen
Catherine Morland’s introduction to fashionable society exposes her to horror, crime, and romance. Jane Austen’s first novel parodies the popular gothic novels of the time and reveals a youthful imagination in her early work.
‘A fondness for reading, which, properly directed, must be an education in itself.’
‘How pleasant it is to spend an evening in this way! I declare, after all, there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.’
‘Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery. I quit such odious subjects as soon as I can.’
Jane Austen
Raised by her wealthy relatives, Fanny Prince’s modesty and integrity stand in stark contrast to the glamorous yet ambiguous lives around her in this most controversial of Jane Austen’s novels.
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No one skewers social pretension and everyday absurdity quite like Austen. Her sharpest lines are often her funniest.
‘I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal.’
‘A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of.’
‘Silly things do cease to be silly if they are done by sensible people in an impudent way.’
‘Oh! do not attack me with your watch. A watch is always too fast or too slow. I cannot be dictated to by a watch.’
‘I am necessitated to say that in this reign the roman Catholics of England did not behave like Gentlemen to the protestants. Their behaviour indeed to the Royal Family and both Houses of Parliament might justly be considered by them as very uncivil.’
Jane Austen
The History of England is a playful and sharply satirical take on the schoolroom history texts of Jane Austen’s time, written when she was just 15.
Whether she’s celebrating female intelligence or quietly mocking it, Austen always has a point to make.
‘You must be the best judge of your own happiness.’
‘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.’
Jane Austen
A subtly subversive Regency romance, Persuasion, is a classic of English literature. A delightful insight into the foibles and follies of English high society, Jane Austen’s wit continues to sparkle in her last published novel.
‘If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad.’
‘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.’
‘Run mad as often as you chuse [choose], but do not faint.’
Jane Austen
One of Jane Austen’s earliest works, Love and Friendship is a sharply satirical novella that pokes fun at the romantic excesses and social pretensions of eighteenth-century upper-class society.
‘Single women have a dreadful propensity for being poor, which is one very strong argument in favor of matrimony; but I need not dwell on such arguments with you, pretty dear.’
‘You must learn some of my philosophy. Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.’
Jane Austen is one of the most influential and widely read writers in English literature. Best known for her sparkling romantic comedies full of witty social observation, she created unforgettable heroines and quietly radical stories that continue to captivate readers around the world. Discover our editions of her incredible novels, letters, and early works.
