Jane Austen Quote of the Day

Mrs. D. on expectations

"'One must not expect everything.'"

Mrs. Dashwood, on hoping to improve Barton Cottage but expecting not to have the money to be able to do it
Sense & Sensibility, volume 1, chapter 6

Rather ironic coming from Mrs. Dashwood!  Unfortunately, in other realms of life, she is not so philosophical and has to learn this lesson the hard way.

Sense will always have attractions

“'My protégé, as you call him, is a sensible man; and sense will always have attractions for me.  Yes, Marianne, even in a man between thirty and forty.  He has seen a great deal of the world; has been abroad; has read, and has a thinking mind. . . . I can only pronounce him to be a sensible man, well-bred, well informed, of gentle address, and I believe possessing an amiable heart.’”

Elinor comes to Colonel Brandon’s defense with Marianne and Willoughby
Sense & Sensibility, volume 1, chapter 10

What indeed?

“’What have wealth or grandeur to do with happiness?’” [Marianne]

‘Grandeur has but little,’ said Elinor, ‘but wealth has much to do with it.’

‘Elinor, for shame!’ said Marianne; ‘money can only give happiness where there is nothing else to give it.  Beyond a competence, it can afford no real satisfaction as far as mere self is concerned.’

‘Perhaps,’ said Elinor, smiling, ‘we may come to the same point.  Your competence and my wealth are very much alike, I dare say; and without them, as the world goes now, we shall both agree that every kind of external comfort must be wanting.  Your ideas are only more noble than mine.  Come, what is your competence?’

‘About eighteen hundred or two thousand a year; not more than that.’

Elinor laughed. ‘Two thousand a year!  One is my wealth!  I guessed how it would end.’”

Elinor & Marianne discussing with Edward the need of money for happiness
Sense & Sensibility, volume 1, chapter 17 [emphasis mine]

A simple man

"'I have no wish to be distinguished; and I have every reason to hope I never shall.  Thank Heaven!  I cannot be forced into genius and eloquence."

Edward Ferrars on his mother's hopes for his fame, however it might be accomplished
Sense & Sensibility, volume 1, chapter 17

Dear old Brandon

"Colonel Brandon . . . was silent and grave.  His appearance however was not unpleasing, in spite of his being in the opinion of Marianne and Margaret an absolute old bachelor, for he was on the wrong side of five and thirty; but though his face was not handsome, his countenance was sensible, and his address was particularly gentlemanlike."

Sense & Sensibility, volume 1, chapter 7
Oh, that there were more bachelors of five and thirty with a sensible countenance and gentlemanly spirit. (I suspect that still sounds very old to some of my readers, but I am determined to believe it is not.)

Sleepless nights

"Marianne would have thought herself very inexcusable had she been able to sleep at all the first night after parting from Willoughby.  She would have been ashamed to look her family in the face the next morning had she not risen from her bed in more need of repose than when she lay down in it"

Sense & Sensibility, volume 1, chapter 16
Marianne was of course in no danger of sleeping at all that night, poor girl.

Marriane on self-control

"The business of self-command she settled very easily: with strong affections it was impossible; with calm ones it could have no merit.  That her sister's affections were calm, she dared not deny, though she blushed to acknowledge it; and of the strength of her own, she gave a very striking proof by still loving and respecting that sister in spite of this mortifying conviction."

Sense & Sensibility, volume 1, chapter 19