Pride and Prejudice Quotes

I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.

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

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

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.

Angry people are not always wise.

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.

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.

What are men to rocks and mountains?.

I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.

I must learn to be content with being happier than I deserve.

You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged; but one word from you will silence me on this subject for ever.

I have not the pleasure of understanding you.

I am the happiest creature in the world. Perhaps other people have said so before, but not one with such justice. I am happier even than Jane; she only smiles, I laugh.

To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love.

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, were such as to form the groundwork of disapprobation on which succeeding events have built so immovable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.

For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?.

You must learn some of my philosophy. Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.

An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do.

You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. -Mr. Darcy.

Till this moment I never knew myself.

I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch for. It is, I believe, too little yielding— certainly too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of other so soon as I ought, nor their offenses against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost forever.

My good opinion once lost is lost forever.

We all know him to be a proud, unpleasant sort of man; but this would be nothing if you really liked him.

He is a gentleman, and I am a gentleman's daughter. So far we are equal.

There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil, a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome." "And your defect is a propensity to hate everybody." "And yours," he replied with a smile, "is wilfully to misunderstand them.

A girl likes to be crossed a little in love now and then. It is something to think of.

The distance is nothing when one has a motive.

Oh, Lizzy! do anything rather than marry without affection.

Mary wished to say something very sensible, but knew not how.

I certainly have not the talent which some people possess," said Darcy, "of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done.

She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me, and I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.

It's been many years since I had such an exemplary vegetable.

Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind. But vanity, not love, has been my folly.

But people themselves alter so much, that there is something new to be observed in them for ever.

I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me.

I am determined that only the deepest love will induce me into matrimony. So, I shall end an old maid, and teach your ten children to embroider cushions and play their instruments very ill.

Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can.

She was convinced that she could have been happy with him, when it was no longer likely they should meet.

Now be sincere; did you admire me for my impertinence?" "For the liveliness of your mind, I did.

They were within twenty yards of each other, and so abrupt was his appearance, that it was impossible to avoid his sight. Their eyes instantly met, and the cheeks of each were overspread with the deepest blush. He absolutely started, and for a moment seemed immoveable from surprise; but shortly recovering himself, advanced towards the party, and spoke to Elizabeth, if not in terms of perfect composure, at least of perfect civility.

Nothing is more deceitful," said Darcy, "than the appearance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast.

Do not consider me now as an elegant female intending to plague you, but as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart.

I have been used to consider poetry as "the food of love" said Darcy. "Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may. Everything nourishes what is strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away.

They walked on, without knowing in what direction. There was too much to be thought, and felt, and said, for attention to any other objects.

why with so evident a design of offending and insulting me, you chose to tell me that you liked me against your will, against your reason, and even against your character?.

One cannot be always laughing at a man without now and then stumbling on something witty.

One word from you shall silence me forever.

Do not give way to useless alarm; though it is right to be prepared for the worst, there is no occasion to look on it as certain.

Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces.

You are mistaken, Mr. Darcy, if you suppose that the mode of your declaration affected me in any other way, than as it spared the concern which I might have felt in refusing you, had you behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner." (Elizabeth Bennett).

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 they the result of previous study?.

Could there be finer symptoms? Is not general incivility the very essence of love?.

From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two of the silliest girls in the country. I have suspected it some time, but I am now convinced.

A person who can write a long letter with ease, cannot write ill.

Do not be in a hurry, the right man will come at last.

The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and everyday confirms my belief of the inconsistencies of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense.

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

Elizabeth's spirit's soon rising to playfulness again, she wanted Mr. Darcy to account for his having ever fallen in love with her. 'How could you begin?' said she. 'I can comprehend your going on charmingly, when you had once made a beginning; but what could set you off in the first place?' 'I cannot fix on 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.

Adieu to disappointment and spleen. What are men to rocks and mountains?.

Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves. "You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these last twenty years at least.

I dearly love a laugh... I hope I never ridicule what is wise or good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can.

Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.

How little of permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger than their virtue.

You either choose this method of passing the evening because you are in each other's confidence, and have secret affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking;— if the first, I should be completely in your way, and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire.

She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. It was an union that must have been to the advantage of both: by her ease and liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners improved; and from his judgement, information, and knowledge of the world, she must have received benefit of greater importance.

Mr. Darcy began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention.

Is not general incivility the very essence of love?.

Every savage can dance.

Elizabeth had never been more at a loss to make her feelings appear what they were not. It was necessary to laugh, when she would rather have cried.

What a shame, for I dearly love to laugh.

She had a lively, playful disposition that delighted in anything ridiculous.

We are each of an unsocial, taciturn disposition, unwilling to speak, unless we expect to say something that will amaze the whole room, and be handed down to posterity with all the eclat of a proverb.

That will do extremely well, child. You have delighted us long enough. Let the other young ladies have time to exhibit.

It is very often nothing but our own vanity that deceives us. Women fancy admiration means more than it does. And men take care that they should.

I have the highest respect for your nerves, they are my old friends.

She told the story, however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in any thing ridiculous.

If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of someone or other of their daughters.