Pride and Prejudice Quotes

Lady Catherine de Bourgh in Pride and Prejudice

I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh…whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her Ladyship.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 13. Newly ordained clergyman Mr. Collins begins his letter to Mr. Bennet in groveling terms about his patron Lady Catherine de Bourgh. In Collins we see Jane Austen’s genius for comic satire at its best. He is presented as a ridiculous churchman more interested in living well in his "valuable" new position and kowtowing to his aristocratic benefactor, than in devoting his life to spiritual matters.

"There is something very pompous in his style. – And what can he mean by apologising for being next in the entail? – We cannot suppose he would help it if he could. – Could he be a sensible man, sir?"
"No, my dear, I think not. I have great hopes of finding him quite the reverse. There is a mixture of servility and self-importance in his letter, which promises well. I am impatient to see him"

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 13. Elizabeth and her father are commenting on Mr. Collins and his letter to the Bennets, whose Longbourn estate he is to inherit and which he is about to visit. In the letter he expresses the hope that "the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the offered olive-branch." We gain a good glimpse of Mr. Collins’s character from the Bennets’ comments – pompous, servile to his patron Lady Catherine de Bourgh and for a clergyman unusually vain and full of his own self-importance.

He begged to know to which of his fair cousins, the excellence of its cookery was owing. But here he was set right by Mrs. Bennet, who assured him with some asperity that they were very well able to keep a good cook, and that her daughters had nothing to do in the kitchen.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 13. An offended Mrs. Bennet puts Mr. Collins right when he asks which of her daughters was responsible for the excellent cooking. She interprets this as suggesting they were of the lower class and couldn’t afford a cook.
Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine in Pride and Prejudice

Mr. Collins was eloquent in her praise. The subject elevated him to more than usual solemnity of manner, and with a most important aspect he protested that he had never in his life witnessed such behaviour in a person of rank – such affability and condescension, as he had himself experienced from Lady Catherine. She had been graciously pleased to approve of both of the discourses which he had already had the honour of preaching before her.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 14. Over dinner at the Bennets’ home, Mr. Collins spends much of his time describing the woman who helped him establish his career in the clergy, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. The fawning obsequiousness and servility he displays towards his patroness, coupled with his pretentious manners and obsessive formality, help make Mr. Collins one of English literature’s unforgettable comic characters. Here Austen is satirizing the behavior of the noble class through Collins’s absurd admiration for Lady Catherine and her treatment of him. She is also being ironic – for nobody in their right mind admires being condescended to.

I am happy on every occasion to offer those little delicate compliments which are always acceptable to ladies. I have more than once observed to Lady Catherine, that her charming daughter seemed born to be a duchess, and that the most elevated rank, instead of giving her consequence, would be adorned by her. These are the kind of little things which please her ladyship, and it is a sort of attention which I conceive myself peculiarly bound to pay.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 14. The oily and smarmy Mr. Collins is at his sycophantic best (or worst!) when he drops the name of Lady Catherine de Bourgh into the conversation – and he does a lot of that in the Bennets’ home.

"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 the result of previous study?"
"They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time, and though I sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging such little elegant compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to give them as unstudied an air as possible."

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 14. Mr. Bennet is making fun of Mr. Collins and being ironical at his guest’s expense when he compliments him on his talent of "flattering with delicacy." But Mr. Collins is too dense and full of his own vanity to notice it. In his reply Collins admits to thinking up compliments and practising them so that present them at the right time as if they came naturally.

I have often observed how little young ladies are interested by books of a serious stamp, though written solely for their benefit. It amazes me, I confess; for, certainly, there can be nothing so advantageous to them as instruction. But I will no longer importune my young cousin.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 14. After his meal with the Bennets, Mr. Collins insists on reading to the girls from a book of sermons and Lydia gets bored and interrupts him with gossip about the militia soldiers. The offended Collins abandons his reading, complaining about how little young ladies are interested in serious books written for their benefit.

Mr. Bennet’s expectations were fully answered. His cousin was as absurd as he had hoped, and he listened to him with the keenest enjoyment, maintaining at the same time the most resolute composure of countenance, and except in an occasional glance at Elizabeth, requiring no partner in his pleasure.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 14. Austen’s descriptions of the pompous and conceited Mr. Collins, as she savagely satirizes the ridiculous clergyman, are almost mockeries. A good example is in this passage where Mr. Bennet derives much amusement from observing his absurd cousin’s manners and way of going on during a visit to Longbourn. And we laugh with him.

The subjection in which his father had brought him up had given him originally great humility of manner; but it was now a good deal counteracted by the self-conceit of a weak head, living in retirement, and the consequential feelings of early and unexpected prosperity. A fortunate chance had recommended him to Lady Catherine de Bourgh when the living of Hunsford was vacant; and the respect which he felt for her high rank, and his veneration for her as his patroness, mingling with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his right as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 15. In the novel Mr. Collins – like his patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh – is a caricature of a proud and conceited person. He is described in this passage as a man full of pride and his own self-importance and obsequiousness towards his patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

Having now a good house and a very sufficient income, he intended to marry…he meant to choose one of the daughters, if he found them as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report. This was his plan of amends – of atonement – for inheriting their father’s estate; and he thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and suitableness, and excessively generous and disinterested on his own part.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 15. At a time when women’s legal access to property in England was limited, Mr. Collins is due to inherit Longbourn on the death of Mr. Bennet. Now that he has a good income and house, he decides that it is time to marry. Seeing himself as a fountain of generosity and kindness, he decides to choose one of the Bennet daughters to make amends to the family over the loss of their home. Austen is an expert at writing ironic statements and the tone throughout this passage is without doubt ironic, for Collins admires himself for sharing with one of the Bennet girls the wealth that he took from them in the first place. The description of the puffed-up clergyman celebrating his high-mindedness marks Austen out as the supreme satirist. Mr. Collins has no self-awareness of how ridiculous he is.

Miss Bennet’s lovely face confirmed his views, and established all his strictest notions of what was due to seniority; and for the first evening she was his settled choice.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 15. Having now a good house and income, Mr. Collins has decided to marry and goes to Longbourn with the intention of choosing one of the Bennet sisters for a wife. On seeing Jane’s "lovely face" and without knowing anything of her character, he announces his intentions towards the eldest Bennet sister. On his quick first impressions of her, she fits the bill for the position of Mrs. Collins.

Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth – and it was soon done – done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire. Elizabeth, equally next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of course.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 15. After setting sights on Jane Bennet for his wife, Mr. Collins has no problem switching his attentions to Elizabeth, when Mrs. Bennet points out that Jane is soon to be engaged to someone else. In his search for a wife, the ridiculous Mr. Collins doesn’t really care who he marries.

In his library he had always been always sure of leisure and tranquillity; and though prepared…to meet with folly and conceit in every other room in the house, he was used to be free of them there.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 15. Mr. Bennet sees his library not so much as a place of learning but as his escape room. He goes there to find solace in his loveless marriage. But in this instance it’s to get away from the annoying Mr. Collins, who is talking to him non-stop about his house and garden in Hunsford. In hiding himself behind his library books, Mr. Collins neglects his family and his parenting responsibilities towards his daughters.

But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with an officer on the other side of the way…His appearance was greatly in his favour; he had all the best part of beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 15. The reader is introduced to George Wickham for the first time. The reaction of all the young ladies is very favorable towards Wickham. Although he is a scoundrel and cad, they don’t see beyond his handsome appearance which deceives them into thinking that he is a good person. First impressions don’t always prove right. In this passage note the narrator’s emphasis on Wickham’s outward appearance and superficiality – "gentlemanlike appearance," "fine countenance," "good figure" and "pleasing address." This foreshadows that the handsome Wickham turns out to be completely different than what he appears to be.

When Mr. Wickham walked into the room, Elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing him before, nor thinking of him since, with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration. The officers of the -shire were in general a very creditable, gentlemanlike set, and the best of them were of the present party; but Mr. Wickham was as far beyond them all in person, countenance, air, and walk.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 16. We see two of the novel’s major themes at play here, prejudice and first impressions, when Elizabeth finds herself with George Wickham at dinner. Based purely on his looks and appearance, she finds him the most admirable of all the officers in his militia regiment. Her hasty first impressions turn out to be completely wrong when she learns to her horror and shame that he is a sexual predator and scoundrel.

"Are you much acquainted with Mr. Darcy?"
"As much as I ever wish to be," cried Elizabeth very warmly. "I have spent four days in the same house with him, and I think him very disagreeable."

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 16. Seated next to George Wickham at dinner at her aunt’s home in Meryton, Elizabeth strikes up a conversation with the handsome army officer who has charmed her. She reveals to Wickham that she is not at all well disposed towards Mr. Darcy and finds him most disagreeable – after knowing him for only four days! As well as displaying her blatent prejudice against Darcy, Elizabeth’s comments also turn out to be rather ironic – she falls in love with the "disagreeable" Darcy and they end up happily married!

I had not thought Mr. Darcy so bad as this – though I have never liked him. I had not thought so very ill of him. I had supposed him to be despising his fellow-creatures in general, but did not suspect him of descending to such malicious revenge, such injustice, such inhumanity as this.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 16. This is Elizabeth’s reaction when George Wickham tells her that Mr. Darcy ignored the wishes of his father’s will to provide money to Wickham to pursue a career in church ministry because Mr. Darcy disliked him. Elizabeth appears to be taken in by the good looks and charm of Wickham and she doesn’t see him for the real cad and liar that he is.

A young man too, like you, whose very countenance may vouch for your being amiable.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 16. Elizabeth seems easily fooled by the charming and handsome George Wickham’s outward appearance, when he spins his lies about Mr. Darcy. He has told her a completely false story about Darcy cheating him. Elizabeth who prides herself on being a good judge of character is too mesmerized by Wickham to see him for the deceiver he is and how she is being cleverly and subtly manipulated. She is exhibiting a prejudice towards Wickham, just as she has developed one against Darcy.

It has often led him to be liberal and generous, to give his money freely, to display hospitality, to assist his tenants, and relieve the poor. Family pride, and filial pride – for he is very proud of what his father was – have done this. Not to appear to disgrace his family, to degenerate from the popular qualities, or lose the influence of the Pemberley House, is a powerful motive. He has also brotherly pride, which, with some brotherly affection, makes him a very kind and careful guardian of his sister, and you will hear him generally cried up as the most attentive and best of brothers.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 16. George Wickham does have some good things to say to Elizabeth about Mr. Darcy, particularly regarding his family pride. He is proud of his father, kind and caring to his sister Georgiana and would not do anything to disgrace his family or injure the reputation of Pemberley House. What a shame that Wickham doesn’t have similar good qualities.

Her manners were dictatorial and insolent. She has the reputation of being remarkably sensible and clever; but I rather believe she derives part of her abilities from her rank and fortune, part from her authoritative manner, and the rest from the pride of her nephew, who chooses that every one connected with him should have an understanding of the first class.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 16. Charles Bingley is speaking to Elizabeth here about Lady Catherine. He sums up her character extremely accurately. There are many examples in the novel of her being authoritative and dictatorial with the other characters and using her rank and wealth to tell others what to do.

It was not in her nature to question the veracity of a young man of such amiable appearance as Wickham.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 17. Elizabeth is prejudiced against Darcy. So she believes George Wickham’s story that Darcy acted cruelly to him and refused to honor the wish of Darcy’s father that finance be provided for Wickham to become a clergyman. By emphasizing Wickham’s "amiable appearance," the narrator is hinting that he is not quite the person that Elizabeth believes. This foreshadows Wickham being outed later as a scoundrel and deceiver.
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