Jane Austen Quotes

June 21, 2012 · 3:38 pm

Such low connections

The Bingley sisters discuss Jane’s chances of marrying well:

“I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it.”

“I think I have heard you say, that their uncle is an attorney in Meryton.”

“Yes; and they have another, who lives somewhere near Cheapside.”

“That is capital,” added her sister, and they both laughed heartily.

“If they had uncles enough to fill all Cheapside,” cried Bingley, “it would not make them one jot less agreeable.”

“But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any consideration in the world,” replied Darcy.

Pride and Prejudice, Vol 1, Ch 8

Comments Off on Such low connections

Filed under Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, Family, Jane Bennet, Miss Bingley, Money, Money and Marriage, Mr. Bingley, Pride and Prejudice

June 20, 2012 · 1:19 pm

If she should die

“. . . if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness, if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and under your orders.”

Mr. Bennet, to his wife, who had forced Jane to ride to Netherfield on horseback through the rain

Mrs. Bennet may have been ridiculous, but she still had some power over her daughters, even though they had so much more sense than she did.

Pride and Prejudice, Vol 1, Ch 7

Comments Off on If she should die

Filed under Health, Jane Bennet, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Bingley, Mrs. Bennet, Power, Pride and Prejudice

June 19, 2012 · 7:30 am

A handsome uniform or a handsome fortune?

They could talk of nothing but officers; and Mr. Bingley’s large fortune, the mention of which gave animation to their mother, was worthless in their eyes when opposed to the regimentals of an ensign.

of Kitty and Lydia

Pride and Prejudice, Vol 1, Ch 7

Comments Off on A handsome uniform or a handsome fortune?

Filed under Lydia Bennet, Money, Mr. Bingley, Pride and Prejudice, Wealth

June 18, 2012 · 3:39 pm

If I were as rich as Darcy . . .

“If I were as rich as Mr. Darcy,” cried a young Lucas who came with his sisters, “I should not care how proud I was. I would keep a pack of foxhounds, and drink a bottle of wine every day.”

Pride and Prejudice, Vol 1, Ch 5

Comments Off on If I were as rich as Darcy . . .

Filed under Darcy, Money, Pride, Pride and Prejudice, Wealth

June 13, 2012 · 7:30 am

Pride, power & wealth

“One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, every thing in his favour, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud.”

Miss Lucas on Mr. Darcy, after first meeting him at the neighborhood ball

Pride and Prejudice, Vol 1, Ch 5

Comments Off on Pride, power & wealth

Filed under Charlotte Lucas, Darcy, Money, Power, Pride, Pride and Prejudice, Wealth

June 12, 2012 · 3:55 pm

Haughty, haughty

. . . Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared; Darcy was continually giving offence.

Pride and Prejudice, Vol 1, Ch 4

Comments Off on Haughty, haughty

Filed under Character description, Darcy, Men, Mr. Bingley, Pride, Pride and Prejudice

June 6, 2012 · 1:24 pm

Entitled to think well of themselves

They were in fact very fine ladies . . . but proud and conceited. They were rather handsome, had been educated in one of the first private seminaries in town, had a fortune of twenty thousand pounds, were in the habit of spending more than they ought, and of associating with people of rank; and were therefore in every respect entitled to think well of themselves, and meanly of others.

Of Bingley’s sisters

Pride and Prejudice Vol. 1, Ch. 4

Comments Off on Entitled to think well of themselves

Filed under Miss Bingley, Money, On being a lady, Power, Pride, Pride and Prejudice, Shopping, Wealth

June 5, 2012 · 7:00 am

Marry? Mr. Collins?

“Mr. Collins to be sure was neither sensible nor agreeable; his society was irksome, and his attachment to her must be imaginary. But still he would be her husband. 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. This preservative she had now obtained; and at the age of twenty-seven, without having ever been handsome, she felt all the good luck of it.”

on Charlotte Lucas’s marrying Mr. Collins
Pride & Prejudice, Volume 1, Chapter 22

2 Comments

Filed under Charlotte Lucas, Marriage, Men, Money, Mr. Collins, Poverty, Pride and Prejudice

June 4, 2012 · 7:00 am

Ah, Fame…

“I am very much flattered by your commendation of my last Letter, for I write only for Fame, and without any view to pecuniary Emolument.”

letter to Cassandra
January 14, 1796 [2]

1 Comment

Filed under Fame, Letters, Money, Writing

June 3, 2012 · 7:00 am

I am tolerably glad…

“I am tolerably glad to hear that Edward’s income is so good a one-as glad as I can at anybody’s being rich besides You & me.”

letter to Cassandra
January 8, 1799 [17]

Edward was Jane’s dear brother who was adopted by wealthy cousins. Cassandra was staying with him at his gorgeous estate Godmersham, in Kent, when this letter was written.