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15 Best Jane Austen Quotes

Joanna  Lopez
Who doesn't love Jane Austen? If you really think about it she was the first Chick Lit writer. She wrote about the comedy of manners, society and the station in life in which you were born and what they expect of you. Jane Austen's (1775-1817) novels, and short stories speak to every generation whether you were born a man or a woman everyone can identify with her characters. So, no wonder she is still so beloved centuries later. That is why I have accumulated the 15 greatest Jane Austen quotes of all time. They are quotes she has said herself as well as quotes found in her classic novels.

1. "I do not want people to be agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them"- Jane Austen

2. "Where so many hours have been spent in convincing myself that I am right, is there not some reason to fear I may wrong?"- Jane Austen

3. "One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other"- Jane Austen, Emma

4. "It is universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife"- Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

5. "It is always incomprehensible to a man that a woman should ever refuse an offer of marriage"-Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

6. "Wisdom is better than wit, and in the long run will certainly have the laugh on her side"- Jane Austen (from a letter to her niece November 18, 1814)

7. "An artist cannot be slovenly"-Jane Austen (from a letter to her sister Cassandra, November 25, 1798) * Note: This is one is my favorite.

8. "The person, whether it be a gentleman or a lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid"- Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey.

9. "Life is just a quick succession of busy nothings"-Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

10. "Why not seize the pleasure at once, how often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparations"- Jane Austen

11. "Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love"- Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

12. "In every power, of which taste is the foundation, excellence is pretty fairly divided between the sexes"- Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

13. "What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance"-Jane Austen

14. "Nothing ever fatigues me, but doing what I do not like"-Jane Austen

15. "At my time of life opinions are tolerably fixed. It is not likely that I should now see or hear anything that will change them"-Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility.

There you have it the 15 Great Jane Austen quotes. Please comment in the box below if you know of any Jane Austen's quotes I may have missed or if you just want to say hello. I don't mind.

Published by Joanna Lopez

I have recently been awarded the title of Featured Movie Contributor for Associated content. I truely love movies and have expressed my opinions about film on many occasions to friends and family et nauseum...  View profile

  • Jane Austen wrote about the comedy of manners, society and the class of life you were born into.
  • Jane Austen was the first chick lit writer
  • A gentleman and lady in whatever Century can identify with Jane Austen's characters.
Jane Austen wrote three evening prayers for her family.

11 Comments

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  • Je Tamme Derouet12/24/2010

    Excelent fact sheet. Very well put together!

  • Lizzie10/12/2010

    I thought it was 15 quotes. Either way, the quotes were great. I believe the best quote would have to be "The person, whether it be a gentleman or a lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid". I find it a rather amusing quote, and Jane Austen is right. All the quotes are very good.

  • Catherine A2/26/2009

    I love Jane Austen, great quotes.

  • Joanna Lopez12/19/2008

    Hi B. Davidson and Briony for catching those quotes. I appreciate it. I must have been a hurry writing that one.

    Thanks again.

  • Briony12/19/2008

    Ahem number 5?
    "It is always incomprehensible to a man that a woman should ever refuse an offer of marriage"-Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
    It's from Emma. Emma says it to Mr. Knightly after she tells him Harriet refused Robert Martin.

  • B. Davidson11/12/2007

    #5 is from Emma, not Pride and Prejudice. (Emma says it to Mr. Knightly after her telling him that Harriet has refused Robert Martin.)

  • Tweak7/8/2007

    Great quotes. I like quote articles like this. Thanks.

  • Charlotte Kuchinsky4/19/2007

    I love this one too!

  • Sherri Granato4/19/2007

    #1 is a real beauty. Great quotes!

  • Amy Brantley4/16/2007

    Great article! I love Jane Austen.

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