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Jane Austen Quotes

single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife - Jane Austen quote

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

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 1. The opening sentence of Jane Austen’s comedy of manners is without question one of the most famous and best known first lines in literature. Its masterful ironic style and humorous tone are foreshadowing of the sparkling humor and irony to be found throughout the classic novel. It introduces us to four important themes: marriage, love, money and class. The satirical view Austin takes of her characters and of marriage in the Regency period is established. The memorable first line also signals the classic novel’s treatment of men as commodities and prized possessions for single women. It is a good example of verbal irony as women in the late 18th century were far more dependent on their husbands, than vice versa. In fact rich bachelors Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy are not at all searching for a wife, the situation is totally opposite, as we very quickly learn. Austen was only 21 years old when she wrote Pride and Prejudice. It is one of six major novels which earns her a deserved reputation as master ironist and supreme pioneer of comedy. First published anonymously in 1813 when it wasn’t deemed ladylike to pursue a career in writing, it remains one of the world’s most popular novels more than two hundred years later.
A lady's imagination is very rapid - Darcy in Pride and Prejudice

A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony, in a moment.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 6. This is Mr. Darcy’s comeback to Caroline Bingley, who is astonished that Elizabeth Bennet is his "favourite" and jokingly asks Darcy when the wedding is to be. Darcy’s tongue-in-cheek response keeps up the joke, but it also contains a lot of truth. For marriage is a big obsession with the female characters in the novel and is one of its main themes.

Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride – where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 11. When Elizabeth calls Mr. Darcy out on what she believes are his weaknesses, pride and vanity, he shows some self-awareness by actually acknowledging his defects. But he doesn’t see pride as a weakness where there is "superiority of mind" and it is properly controlled. That may sound arrogant, but he a point there.

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

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 24. This isn’t the usual smart and witty Elizabeth, but a more pessimistic version of her. She sounds disillusioned with life and people’s lack of integrity. But perhaps her sentiments are understandable. They are expressed when Bingley allows himself to be influenced by others to move away from Jane to London, and also when her friend Charlotte chooses a loveless marriage to Mr. Collins. Elizabeth is a woman of honesty and virtue who doesn’t suffer those who are morally weak or bereft gladly.

You shall not, for the sake of one individual, change the meaning of principle and integrity, nor endeavour to persuade yourself or me, that selfishness is prudence, and insensibility of danger security for happiness.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 24. Elizabeth is arguing with her sister Jane about the marriage between Charlotte and Mr. Collins. She pours scorn on Jane’s attempts to defend the marriage. Elizabeth is resolved not to marry for mercenary motives and is opposed to marriage not based on love.

Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then. It is something to think of, and gives her a sort of distinction among her companions.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 24. While Mrs. Bennet is anxious and worried, Mr. Bennet finds it a source of amusement that Jane’s hopes of getting married anytime soon diminish as Charles Bingley appears to abandon her and move from the area. The humorous and more relaxed Mr. Bennet is the perfect foil to the emotional Mrs. Bennet. But what Mr. Bennet says here to Elizabeth is ironic, as no girl likes being disappointed in love and it’s not a laughing matter for his eldest daughters.

We do not suffer by accident. It does not often happen that the interference of friends will persuade a young man of independent fortune to think no more of a girl whom he was violently in love with only a few days before.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 25. Elizabeth says this to Mrs. Gardiner about the break-up between Jane and Mr. Bingley. The "interference" she refers to is by Mr. Darcy, whom she blames for persuading his friend Bingley to pull away from Jane despite being "violently in love" with her.

What is the difference in matrimonial affairs, between the mercenary and the prudent move? What does discretion end, and avarice begin?

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 27. Elizabeth says this to Mrs. Gardiner, when she labels George Wickham mercenary because he dropped Elizabeth for Miss King who has inherited ten thousand pounds. How does one tell the difference between the mercenary and the prudent and the discreet and the avaricious when it comes to marital affairs, she asks? Elizabeth is calling out the hypocrisy of her aunt warning her the previous Christmas against marrying Wickham because of "want of fortune."

Stupid men are the only ones worth knowing after all.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 27. Elizabeth is being sarcastic and ironic here and doesn’t mean what she says. She is referring to Mr. Collins, a man who is stupid but whom she finds irritable and not the least attractive. Fed up with men and abandoned by George Wickam, she makes this comment to her aunt as she is about to visit the Collinses. This is the full quote of what Elizabeth says to Mrs. Gardiner: "Oh! if that is all, I have a very poor opinion of young men who live in Derbyshire; and their intimate friends who live in Hertfordshire are not much better. I am sick of them all. Thank Heaven! I am going to-morrow where I shall find a man who has not one agreeable quality, who has neither manner nor sense to recommend him. Stupid men are the only ones worth knowing, after all." To this her aunt reponds: "Take care, Lizzy; that speech savours strongly of disappointment."

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

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 31. Elizabeth proudly declares this to Mr. Darcy when he positions himself to have a full view of her performing on the piano at Rosings. She taunts him by saying that he means to frighten her, but she is the kind of person who will not be alarmed. Her outspoken and saucy comments draw this response from Darcy: "I shall not say that you are mistaken because you could not really believe me to entertain any design of alarming you; and I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance long enough to know that you find great enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions which in fact are not your own." Is Darcy right? Is Elizabeth who she says she is and really being herself in this exchange: spirited, courageous, self-confident? Or is her wit and outspokennness with Darcy a defense shield to protect herself and her ego against proud upper class men like him in a male-dominated society?

We neither of us perform to strangers.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 31. Darcy smiles as he says this to Elizabeth in defense of his social awkwardness. It is an ambiguous line that has been the subject of much debate as to how it should be interpreted. It comes after Elizabeth has been teasing Darcy for being rude and refusing to dance with anyone outside his own party at the ball at Meryton. Darcy ends the conversational sparring with a kind word diffusing the situation. The line suggests an intimacy between them and a moment of connection, with Darcy using the word "we" and essentially saying that he and Elizabeth are the same. This is the full quote of what Darcy says: "You are perfectly right. You have employed your time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can think anything wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers."

Reflection must be reserved for solitary hours; whenever she was alone, she gave way to it as the greatest relief; and not a day went by without a solitary walk, in which she might indulge in all the delight of unpleasant recollections.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 37. While Elizabeth is generally a social person with a gift for witty conversation, during her last days at Hunsford and Rosings likes to go on solitary walks and reflect. She keeps thinking about the letter Darcy gave her.

You never will be able to make both of them good for anything. Take your choice, but you must be satisfied with only one. There is but such a quantity of merit between them; just enough to make one good sort of man; and of late it has been shifting about pretty much. For my part, I am inclined to believe it all Darcy’s; but you shall do as you choose.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 40. Elizabeth is discussing Wickham and Darcy with Jane. In typical Elizabeth wit when commenting on the goodness of men, she delivers the memorable line that between the two there is just enough merit to make one good man. Darcy is that man, she declares.
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