Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen
(Penguin, 2012)
5 Bennet Sisters
1) Jane - 22 years old
2) Elizabeth - 20 years old
3) Mary
4) Catherine
5) Lydia - 16 years old
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
Page 3.
When a woman has five grown up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty.
Page 4.
The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.
Page 5.
Affectation of candour is common enough; - one meets it every where. But to be candid without ostentation or design - to take the good of every body’s character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad - belong to you alone.
Page 15.
Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.
Page 20.
There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself.
Page 21.
In nine cases out of ten a woman had better shew more affection than she feels. Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly; but he may never do more than lie her, if she does not help him on.
Page 21.
Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other, or ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life.
Page 23.
A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.
Page 28.
Every impulse of feeling should be guided by reason; and, in my opinion, exertion should always be in proportion to what is required.
Page 33.
No one can be really esteemed accomplished, who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expression.
Page 40.
There is meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable.
Page 41.
Nothing is more deceitful … than the appearance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast.
Page 49.
The power of doing any thing with quickness is always much prized by the possessor, and often without any attention to the imperfection of the performance.
Page 49.
A regard for the requester would often make one readily yield to a request, without waiting for arguments to reason one into it.
Page 51.
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 any thing than a book!
Page 56.
There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil, a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome.
Page 60.
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.
Page 71.
It is particularly incumbent on those who ever change their opinion, to secure of judging properly at first.
Page 98.
Do not consider me now as an elegant female intending to plague you, but as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart.
Page 114.
Those who do not complain are never pitied.
Page 119.
The stupidity with which he was favoured by nature, must guard his courtship for any charm that could make a woman wish for its continuance.
Page 128.
Without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want.
Pages 128-129.
She thought that if encouraged to read and improve himself by such an example as her’s, he might become a very agreeable companion.
Page 130.
There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the word, the more I am dissatisfied with it.
Page 143.
Women fancy admiration means more than it does.
Page 144.
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.
Page 146.
Is not general incivility the very essence of love?
Page 149.
Importance may sometimes be purchased too dearly.
Page 158.
What is the difference in matrimonial affairs, between the mercenary and the prudent motive? Where does discretion end, and avarice begin?
Page 161.
Stupid men are the only ones worth knowing.
Page 162.
The last born has as good a right to the pleasures of youth as the first.
Page 174.
She answered him in the usual way.
Page 179.
There is a stubbornness about me that never an gear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me.
Page 182.
He had ruined for a while every hope of happiness for the most affectionate, generous heart in the world; and no one could say how lasting an evil he might have inflicted.
Page 194.
From the very beginning, from the first moment I may almost say, of my acquaintance with you, your manners impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others.
Page 201.
Astonishment, apprehension, and even horror, oppressed her.
Page 211.
Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think without feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd.
Page 215.
Till this moment, I never knew myself.
Page 215.
Young women should always be properly guarded and attended, according to their situation in life.
Page 219.
Reflection must be reserved for solitary hours.
Page 220.
Elizabeth had frequently united with Jane in an endeavour to check the imprudence of Catherina and Lydia; but while they were supported by their mother’s indulgence, what chance could there be of improvement? Catherine, weak-spirited, irritable, and completely under Lydia’s guidance, had been always affronted by their advice; and Lydia, self-willed and careless, would scarcely give them a hearing. They were ignorant, idle, and vain. While there was an officer in Meryton, they would flirt with him; and while Meryton was within a walk on Longbourn, they would be going there for ever.
Page 220.
The general prejudice against Mr. Darcy is so violent, that it would be the death of half the good people of Meryton, to attempt to place him in an amiable light.
Page 233.
Lydia will never be easy till she has exposed herself in some public place or other, and we can never expect her to do it with so little expense or inconvenience to her family as under the present circumstances.
Page 238.
Such squeamish youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity, are not worth a regret.
Page 238.
She is luckily too poor to be an object of prey to any body.
Page 239.
It was not in her nature, however, to increase her vexations by dwelling on them. She was confident of having performed her duty, and to fret over unavoidable evils, or augment them by anxiety, was no part of her disposition.
Page 239.
I think Mr. Darcy improves on acquaintance.
Page 241.
Had Elizabeth’s opinion been all drawn from her own family, she could not have formed a very pleasing picture of conjugal felicity or domestic comfort. Her father captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance of good humour which youth and beauty generally give, had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind, had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her.
Page 243.
He was fond of the country and of books; and from these tastes had arisen hiss principal enjoyments. To his wife he was very little otherwise indebted, than as her ignorance and folly had contributed to his amusement.
Pages 243-244.
She found, what has been sometimes found before, that an event to which she had looked forward with impatient desire, did not in taking place, bring all the satisfaction she had promised herself.
Pages 244-245.
They who are good-natured when children, are good-natured when they grow up.
Page 257.
What praise is more valuable than the praise of an intelligent servant?
Page 259.
He repeated his enquiries as to the time of her having left Longbourn, and of her stay in Derbyshire, so often, and in so hurried a way, as plainly spoke the distraction of his thoughts.
Page 260.
He is a liberal master, I suppose, and that in the eye of a servant comprehends every virtue.
Page 267.
There was now an interest, however, in believing the housekeeper; and they soon became sensible, that the authority of a servant who had known him since he was four years old, and whose own manners indicated respectability, was not to be hastily rejected.
Pages 273-274.
It was acknowledges, however, that he was a liberal man, and did much good among the poor.
Page 274.
Angry people are not always wise.
Page 280.
Never had she so honestly felt that she could have loved him, as now, when all love must be vain.
Page 287.
Loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable - that one false step involves her in endless ruin - that her reputation is no less brittle than it is beautiful – and that she cannot be too much guarded in her behaviour towards the undeserving of the other sex.
Page 299.
To expose the former faults of any person, without knowing what their present feelings were, seemed unjustifiable.
Page 301.
I hope and trust they will yet be happy. His consenting to marry her is proof, I will believe, that he is come to a right way of thinking. Their mutual affection will steady them; and I flatter myself they will settle so quietyly and live in so rational a manner, as may in time make their past imprudence forgotten.
Page 315.
There is nothing so bad as parting with one’s friends. One seems so forlorn without them.
Page 341.
The usual satisfaction of preaching patience to a sufferer is denied me, because you have always so much.
Page 344.
A man who has once been refused! How could I ever be foolish enough to expect a renewal of his love? Is there one among the sex, who would not protest against such a weakness as a second proposal to the same woman? There is no indignity so abhorrent to their feelings!
Page 353.
Why should you wish to persuade me that I feel more than I acknowledge?
Page 355.
The Bennets were speedily pronounced to be the luckiest family in the world, though only a few weeks before, when Lydia had first run away, they had been generally proved to be marked out for misfortune.
Page 363.
“Whatever my connections may be,” said Elizabeth, “if your nephew does not object to them, they can be nothing to you.”
Page 369.
I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness.
Page 371.
From what the report of their engagement could originate, Elizabeth was at a loss to imagine; till she recollected that his being the intimate friend of Bingley, and her being the sister of Jane, was enough, at a time when the expectation of one wedding, made every body eager for another, to supply the idea.
Page 372.
For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn?
Page 377.
“Are you not diverted?”
“Oh!” cried Elizabeth. “I am excessively diverted.”
Pages 376, 377.
It was necessary to laugh, when she would rather have cried.
Page 377.
He expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do.
Page 379.
You must learn some of my philosophy. Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.
Page 382.
You shewed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased.
Page 383.
Darcy was not of a disposition in which happiness overflows in mirth; and Elizabeth, agitated and confused, rather knew that she was happy, than felt herself to be so.
Page 386.
Do any thing rather than marry without affection.
Page 387.
I know that you could be neither happy nor respectable unless you truly esteemed your husband; unless you looked up to him as a superior.
Page 391.
“If any young men come for Mary or Kitty send them in, for I am quite at leisure.”
Page 392.
“I cannot fix 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.”
Page 394.
“I roused and interested you, because I was so unlike them.”
Page 394.