Jane Austen Quotes

Upon the Sopha

I'm afraid this has become the daily-when-I'm-healthy-enough-to-post quote.  I hope it will be back to daily soon.  Tuesday I used all my available energy to see the D.C. premiere of the new Lyme documentary Under Our Skin.  It's fabulous.  I was exhausted and too emotionally wrung out when I got home to be much good.  Yesterday was a couch day, due to nausea from a new med.  I've bravely ventured out to a coffee shop today, hoping said nausea will stay at bay.

A little from Jane in one of her last letters:

"I am gaining strength very fast.  I am now out of bed from 9 in the morning to 10 at night--Upon the Sopha t'is true--but I eat my meals with Aunt Cass: in a rational way, & can employ myself, & walk from one room to another."

letter to her nephew James Edward
May 27, 1817 [160]

A Vile World

Lovely lunch with JASNA - DC this weekend -- thanks to all who came.  It was an honor to be asked to speak.  Nothing Vile about it!

"We have used Anna as ill as we could, by not letting him [Jane's nephew James-Edward, Anna's half brother] leave us before tomorrow morning, but it is a Vile World, we are all for Self & I expected no better from any of us."

Letter to her niece Caroline [all three were her brother James's children -- Anna from his first marriage, James-Edward and Caroline from his second]
January 23, 1817 [149]

May as well be single

Argh -- yesterday was a rough Lyme day.  I'm afraid against my best intentions this has become the occasionally-daily Austen quote.  Happy Friday the 13th!

"Miss Blachford is married, but I have never seen it in the Papers.  And one may as well be single if the Wedding is not to be in print."

letter to her niece Anna Lefroy
March 1815 [118]

For the love of Pewter

"People are more ready to borrow & praise, than to buy--which I cannot wonder at;--but tho' I like praise as well as anybody, I like what Edward calls Pewter too."

to her niece Fanny Knight, on whether or not there will be a second edition of Mansfield Park
November 30, 1814 [114]

Ideas in common (or lack thereof)

"Only one comes back with me tomorrow, probably Miss Eliza, & I rather dread it.  We shall not have two Ideas in common.  She is young, pretty, chattering & thinking chiefly (I presume) of Dress, Company, & Admiration."

Of a journey back home with one of the Miss Moores
letter to her niece, Fanny Knight
November 30, 1814 [114]

Uphill work

" . . . tho' I like Miss H. M. as much as one can at my time of Life after a day's acquaintance, it is uphill work to be talking to those whom one knows so little."

letter to her niece, Fanny Knight
November 30, 1814 [114]

The misery of being bound without Love

"The unpleasantness of appearing fickle is certainly great--but if you think you want Punishment for past Illusions, there it is--and nothing can compare to the misery of being bound without Love, bound to one, & preferring another.  That is a Punishment which you do not deserve."

letter to her niece Fanny Knight
November 30, 1814 [114]

Another Man

"It is very true that you never may attach another Man, his equal altogether, but if that other Man has the power of attaching you more, he will be in your eyes the most perfect."

letter to her niece Fanny Knight
November 30, 1814 [114]

A possible Evil

"I am at present more impressed with the possible Evil that may arise to You from engaging yourself to him--in word or mind--than with anything else.  When I consider how few young Men you have yet seen much of--how capable you are (yes, I do still think you very capable) of being really in love--and how full of temptation the next 6 or 7 years of your Life will probably be--(it is the very period of Life for the strongest attachments to be formed)--I cannot wish you with your present very cool feelings to devote yourself in honour to him."

letter to her niece Fanny Knight
November 30, 1814 [114]

I think they quoted this nearly directly in Miss Austen Regrets. Olivia Williams as Jane Austen.

How very far from a now

"I am perfectly convinced that your present feelings, supposing you were to marry now, would be sufficient for his happiness;--but when I think how very, very far it is from a Now, & take everything that may be, into consideration, I dare not say, 'determine to accept him.'  The risk is too great for you, unless your own Sentiments prompt it."

letter to her niece Fanny Knight
November 30, 1814 [114]