Jane Austen
Jane Austen
Jane Austenwas an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels which interpret, critique and comment upon the life of the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Her most highly praised novel during her lifetime was Pride and Prejudice, her second published novel. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favorable social standing and economic security...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth16 December 1775
CitySteventon, England
Husbands and wives generally understand when opposition will be vain.
Where an opinion is general, it is usually correct.
Single women have a dreadful propensity for being poor. Which is one very strong argument in favor of matrimony.
Business, you know, may bring you money, but friendship hardly ever does.
There are such beings in the world -- perhaps one in a thousand -- as the creature you and I should think perfection; where grace and spirit are united to worth, where the manners are equal to the heart and understanding; but such a person may not come in your way, or, if he does, he may not be the eldest son of a man of fortune, the near relation of your particular friend, and belonging to your own county.
And what am I to do on the occasion? -- It seems an hopeless business.
I can easily believe it. Women of that class have great opportunities, and if they are intelligent may be well worth listening to. Such varieites of human nature as they are in the habit of witnessing! And it is not merely in its follies, that they are read; for they see it occasionally under every circumstance that can be most interesting or affecting. What instances must pass before them of ardent, disinterested, self-denying attachment, of heroism, fortitude, patience, resignation-- of all the sacrifices that ennoble us most. A sick chamber may often furnish the worth of volumes.
It's been many years since I had such an exemplary vegetable.
Nobody is healthy in London, nobody can be.
It does not appear to me that my hand is unworthy your acceptance, or that the establishment I can offer would be any other than highly desirable.
The memory is sometimes so retentive, so serviceable, so obedient-at others so bewildered and weak-and at others again, so tyrannic, so beyond control!
it is very well worthwhile to be tormented for two or three years of one's life, for the sake of being able to read all the rest of it.
Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable.
A scheme of which every part promises delight, can never be successful; and general disappointment is only warded off by the defence of some little peculiar vexation.